“I told you that no widow had anything to do with it. She is not a widow, Tredegar.” “Not a widow! and just now you hinted that she was not Mrs. Lyon. Who is she, then, Alick?” “She is Lady Killcrichtoun—she is my wife, Tredegar.” “Good Heavens, Alick!—Here!—Here is my hand! I go with you now heart and soul! I am not bloodthirsty, and I want no man’s life; but I do hope you will cripple that fellow for the rest of his days!” fervently exclaimed Francis Tredegar, clasping his hand into Alexander’s palm. “I did not wish—I did not mean to mention her dear name in this connection; circumstances and necessity have forced it from me. Treat it as a sacred confidence, Tredegar.” “By my soul I will!” “And listen to this: the fault, the folly, the madness belong to _me_ and to that man. _She_ is blameless!—yes, blameless as any holy angel. I swear it by all my hopes of Heaven!” The entrance of the waiter with a tray put an end to the conversation for the time being. The friends took each a cup of coffee, a muffin, and a chop, and then went down-stairs and entered the cab that was already packed for their journey. CHAPTER XXIV. THE DUEL. Blood! he will have blood!—SHAKESPEARE. As Alexander and his party entered the fly that was to take them to the station, they observed the crested coach and liveried servants of Prince Ernest coming around the next corner. “Ah!” said Alexander. “We shall be at the station before them. I am glad of it. Our advance will enable us to take a whole carriage and avoid the possibility of going down in their company.” “But it is not to be presumed but that Prince Ernest will do the same thing—will engage a whole carriage for himself and _suite_,” answered Tredegar. “_If he can._ But whole carriages are not always to be had, at the last moment before starting. There may chance to be one, and that I will secure.” They were bowling rapidly along the streets as Alexander spoke. In due time they reached the crowded station. “It is a notable blessing that we are not encumbered with baggage,” said Mr. Tredegar, as they pressed their way to the first-class ticket window. “Yes; what little we have can be taken in the carriage with us,” replied Alexander. High over the heads of the crowd that was before them, Francis Tredegar held his ten-pound note, and high also over their voices he spoke: “We want a whole first-class carriage, if you please.” The note was taken. “How far?” inquired the agent. “Through,” answered Francis. The tickets were handed him. Francis clutched them and said: “Come! we must hurry all the same in order to secure ourselves.” As they pressed outward through the crowd, they saw a servant in the livery of Prince Ernest pressing inward towards the ticket office. And before they had quite worked their way through they heard the man call for a whole first-class carriage.