"But you should have considered it before committing
yourself so irrevocably."
Sir Terence steadied himself. He recovered his truculence.
"Irrevocable or not, it will just have to be revocable. The
meeting's impossible."
"I do not see the impossibility. I am not surprised you should
shelter yourself behind an enactment; but you will remember this
enactment does not apply to me, who am not a soldier."
"But it applies to me, who am not only a soldier, but the
Adjutant-General here, the man chiefly responsible for seeing the
order carried out. It would be a fine thing if I were the first
to disregard it."
"I am afraid it is too late. You have disregarded it already,
sir."
"How so?"
"The letter of the law is against sending or receiving a challenge,
I think."
O'Moy was distracted. "Samoval," he said, drawing himself up, "I
will admit that I have been a fool. I will apologise to you for
the blow and for the word that accompanied it."
"The apology would imply that my statement was a true one and that
you recognised it. If you mean that - "
"I mean nothing of the kind. Damme! I've a mind to horsewhip you,
and leave it at that. D' ye think I want to face a firing party on
your account?"
"I don't think there is the remotest likelihood of any such
contingency," replied Samoval.
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