48. XLVIII.
THE ARRANGEMENT.
THE Captain set out at a thundering gallop, and
soon reached Greenway Court. Lord Fairfax
met him at the door.
“Ah! welcome Captain Wagner,” he said,
speaking in his habitual tone of calmness, mingled with
gloom; “I was just on the point of sending for you—to the
Ordinary, where you have been, I think.”
“Yes, my lord. I spent the night there.”
“And you saw Mr. Falconbridge?”
“Yes, my lord. This morning.”
“Did he speak of the events which occurred last evening?”
“As soon as I descended. I have come as quickly as possible
to discuss in turn with your lordship, the arrangement
of the whole affair.”
The Earl inclined his head gravely, and pointed to a seat,
which the Captain assumed.
“Speak, Captain Wagner,” he said, calmly and courteously.
“I will do so, my lord,” returned the Borderer, “and
frankly. It is necessary, in this miserable business between
yourself and Falconbridge, that I should act as the friend of
your opponent. I like candor, and honesty—I prefer talking
it out plainly. I am attached to you, my lord, I am
your guest, and owe much to you—but I love this young
man as if he was my own blood—my son; and he's a stranger
here. Your lordship can find a friend who will be proud
to act for you—any one of a dozen in the country near at
hand—while Falconbridge is almost alone in this land. I
announce this in advance, that no misunderstanding may
take place—and now, my lord, I await your pleasure.”
“Thanks, Captain Wagner,” said the Earl, with a low bow;
“it is pleasure indeed which I have experienced as you
spoke. I thank you, sir, for this new proof of your confidence
and esteem; you rate me as I wish, sir, as a gentleman
and an honest man. I not only acquiesce in your proposal
to act for Mr. Falconbridge, and acquit you of all want
of friendship in so doing toward myself—I was prepared to
insist upon this very course. That we understand and treat
each other with this confidence, is another proof of that esteem
which I think we feel mutually, sir. Thanks, Captain
Wagner.”
And the Earl inclined again.
“Now to business,” he continued; “I have already dispatched
a request to Colonel Carter that he will wait on me
here, and I think he will soon come. Do you bear any
communication from Mr. Falconbridge?”
“No, my lord, I am not regularly in the position of his
second yet, and have avoided becoming such, in order that
I might act as the mutual friend of both—bound exclusively
to neither.”
“As the friend of both?”
“Yes, my lord—and you know that such is the real truth.
As a friend then, in no wise connected with either, I ask, is
no arrangement possible without bloodshed?”
“None, none at all,” returned the Earl, with gloomy calmness;
“I see no possibility of such a thing. You have
doubtless heard the particulars of the encounter in the wood
last night, and may easily understand that any explanation
is impossible. Let me speak more plainly, and place the
whole in a clear light. I have paid my addresses to Miss
Argal in due form, and I think she is willing to become the
Countess of Fairfax. Let us not speak further of this private
matter, which I mention only to elucidate the rest.
Well, sir, I often saw Mr. Falconbridge at Mr. Argal's,
and his attention to the young lady appeared somewhat
particular. I accordingly demanded of her the exact character
of these attentions, and she assured me that they were
merely those of a friend. Was there any contract, definite
or implied, between herself and Mr. Falconbridge? I asked.
None whatever, was the reply. Why do you frown and
sneer so Captain, with your lip?”
“I beg your lordship's pardon—'tis a deplorable habit I
have acquired. Pray proceed.”
“The rest may be related briefly. Once assured that Mr.
Falconbridge had no claims on Miss Argal, and believing
that he regarded her in the light of a familiar friend only, I
paid her my addresses in a more marked manner. She received
them in a manner which induced me to hope that my
attentions were agreeable, and my visits became, accordingly,
more frequent. Yesterday I spent the afternoon with
the young lady. Mr. Falconbridge called, and, to my great
surprise, was informed that Miss Argal was engaged, and
could not see him. She explained the circumstance by
saying that he had grown so moody and disagreeable of late
that she must really endeavor to break off her intimacy with
him—he made her melancholy. So the subject was forgotten,
and I thought no more of the young gentleman until he
waylaid me in the wood, and gave me the lie direct.”
The Earl flushed as he spoke; but controlled his emotion
and added:
“That is all, sir. I avoided a conflict then and there by
promising to meet Mr. Falconbridge at another and more
favorable time. You must see, Captain Wagner, that any
overtures from myself are utterly impossible.”
The soldier knit his brows and looked more gloomy than
ever.
“It's a deadly looking mixture, or I'm a dandy!” he muttered,
“and unless Falconbridge will move in the matter,
all's over.”
“What do you say, Captain?”
“Nothing much, my lord. I will go and see Falconbridge,
and return as soon as possible, either bearing you the
terms of an arrangement of the affair, or delivering his cartel.”
“That is my duty,” returned the Earl. “Mr. Falconbridge
will thus have choice of weapons, time and place.”
“There will be no trouble about that, my lord; now I'll
go and see what I can do.”
With these words the soldier mounted his horse, and returned
rapidly to the Ordinary. All his attempts to move
the young man were utterly in vain—the arguments of the
Borderer fell back, so to speak, from his iron resolution,
like waves from an ocean rock. At the end of an hour there
was nothing remaining but the question of time, place and
weapons. The Captain returned, and found Colonel Carter
at Greenway, and with this gentleman he now discussed,
formally, as the second of Falconbridge, the terms of the
combat.
It was arranged that it should take place on the same evening
at a spot within the Fort Mountain, which was secluded
and favorable for the purpose, and then the Captain returned
to the Ordinary.
He had never been more gloomy.
