"Is't to be a duel?" said the old man, handing him the case, which the Captain unlocked, and produced two duelling pistols with black ebony handles, and inlaid with silver; on each was a silver plate, and on one neatly engraved three names with dates after them,--three victims to the Captain's sure aim! "You'll gie's permission to hae ane keek at yer shootin', Captain." "No--go to the devil." "Sure, Captain, you're no in earnest; I was speerin' if--" "Come then, but for God's sake cease your clavering," said the Captain, cutting the old butler short. The whole of the gentlemen then rose and followed the principals and their seconds to the fatal spot. In those days little heed was given to the evil of duelling, and it would have made many modern ears tingle had they listened to the light converse on the road. The Marquis and Major Forster were betting on the likelihood of the Captain's being shot or not, as Sir Richard fired first, and the Major offered ten to one against him, which the Marquis took, saying, he had little fear he would miss his shot, unless he was hit through the head; for even if he was mortally wounded in any other part he would still give a dying, and probably a killing shot--he was so famous for his pistol-shooting. The two antagonists were each conversing with his second; Frank and Sir Harry were laughing and joking; the Earl and a large party were the quietest; and some few, such as Mr. Power and Mr. Ravensworth, came not to see the duel, but to strive and arrange a friendly termination yet. A short distance behind, old Andrew, with a tribe of footmen, followed; the butler was descanting on the wonderful sureness of the Captain's shot. "I would not be him to-night though, and Sir Richard getting first fire--that's not a gentlemanly plan--both should fire together," said an English valet. "Deil a fear o' the Captain--an' he be na shot in the heed, he'll hae his man! See him, he is as cool an' unskeered as though he had the first bleeze! Sir Richard is fey, I saw it a' the day--puir young man--his time is oot!" "It isna the first chiel he has shot," said young Wilton, who appeared just then. "Deed no, Jack--there's mayhap three, and mayhap mair names scratched on his weapon--Mr. John was ay a quarrelsome-like chiel--I mind him frae his childhood, he was ay fechting and pummeling, an' noo he has grown a man he but fechts wi' pistols." "If neither are shot will they fight it out still, Andrew?" "In troth will they--but dinna you trouble yer pate wi' sic nonsense--the Captin is na goin' to miss! Sir Richard I'll na swer to, but I wud tak' my aith _he'll_ no miss." CHAPTER III.