"But I am told that he did, and he is under arrest for it this
moment - for that, and for breaking my order against duelling."
"You were not told the truth, my lord. Captain Tremayne says that
he didn't, and if he says so it is so."
"Oh, of course, Miss Armytage!" He was a man of unparalleled valour
and boldness, yet so fierce was she in that moment that for the life
of him he dared not have contradicted her.
"Captain Tremayne is the most honourable man I know," she continued,
"and if he had killed Samoval he would never have denied it; he
would have proclaimed it to all the world."
"There is no need for all this heat, my dear," he reassured her.
"The point is not one that can remain in doubt. The seconds of the
duel will be forthcoming; and they will tell us who were the
principals."
"There were no seconds," she informed him.
"No seconds!" he cried in horror. "D' ye mean they just fought a
rough and tumble fight?"
"I mean they never fought at all. As for this tale of a duel, I
ask your lordship: Had Captain Tremayne desired a secret meeting
with Count Samoval, would he have chosen this of all places in
which to hold it?"
"This?"
"This. The fight - whoever fought it - took place in the quadrangle
there at midnight.
Pages:
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258