“So this is the young cockerel,” the duke
said contemptuously. “A worthy son of a
worthy father, I doubt not.”
“At any rate, my lord duke,” Ronald said
quietly, “I do not rid myself of my foes by
getting those I am afraid to meet as man to man thrown
into prison, nor by setting midnight assassins upon
them. Nor do I rely upon my skill as a swordsman
to be a bully and a coward.”
The duke started as if struck.
“I had made up my mind to kill you, young sir,”
he said, “sooner or later; but you have brought
it on yourself now. Draw, sir!” And the
duke drew his sword.
Colonel Hume and several others threw themselves before
Ronald.
“Put up your sword, sir. Duelling is forbidden,
and you know the consequence of drawing within the
precincts of the palace.”
“What care I for ordinances!” the duke
said furiously. “Stand aside, gentlemen,
lest I do you harm!”
“Harm or no harm,” Colonel Hume said sternly,
“my young friend shall not fight in the palace
grounds. I protest against his being forced into
a duel at all; but at any rate he shall not fight
here.”
The duke looked for a moment as if he was about to
spring upon Colonel Hume, but he saw by their faces
that his companions also were against him. For
the consequences of drawing a sword within the precincts
of a palace were so serious, that even the most powerful
nobles shrank from braving them.
“Very well,” he said at last, thrusting
his sword back into its scabbard. “It is
but ten minutes’ walk to the boundary wall, I
will let him live till then.”
So saying he started off with rapid strides down the
walk, followed at a slower pace by the rest.
“This is a serious business, Leslie,”
the colonel said in a low voice. “If it
had been anyone but you I should have ordered him to
the barracks at once under pain of arrest, and have
laid the matter before the king, for it would have
been nothing short of murder. But I can trust
you to hold your own even against the Duke of Chateaurouge.
And, in truth, after what has been said, I do not
see that you can do other but meet him.”
“I would not avoid it if I could,” Ronald
said. “His insults to me do not disturb
me; but I have my father’s wrongs to avenge.”
“Forbes,” the colonel said to one of the
other officers, “do you go straight to the barracks,
bid Leslie’s man saddle his own horse and his
master’s instantly, and bring them round outside
the wall of the park. If Leslie wounds or kills
his man he will have to ride for it.”
The officer at once hurried away.
