"The whole matter is of no consequence, Mr. King," said the other quietly.
"Nevertheless, I consider it my duty to thank you. I want to get it out of my system. Having purged myself of all that, I now want to tell you of a discovery that I made last evening."
"I am not at all interested."
"You will be when I have told you, however, because it concerns you."
"I do not like your words, Mr. King, nor the way in which you glare at me."
"I'm making it easier to tell you the agreeable news, Count Vos Engo; that's all. You'll be delighted to hear that I thought of you nearly all night and still feel that I have not been able to do you full justice."
"Indeed?" with a distinct uplifting of the eyebrows.
"Take your hand off your sword, please. Some other time, perhaps, but not in these days when we need men, not cripples. I'll tell you what I have discovered and then we'll drop the matter until some other time. We can afford a physical delay, but it would be heartless to keep you in mental suspense. Frankly, Count, I have made the gratifying discovery that you are a damned cur."
Count Vos Engo went very white. He drew his dapper figure up to its full height, swelled his Robin Redbreast coat to the bursting point, and allowed his right hand to fly to his sword. Then, as suddenly, he folded his arms and glared at Truxton.
"As you say, there is another and a better time. We need dogs as well as men in these days."
"I hope you won't forget that I thanked you for coming back last Saturday."
The Count turned and walked rapidly away.
Truxton leaned against the low wall alongside the Allée. "I don't know that I've helped matters any," he said to himself ruefully. "He'll not let me get within half a mile of the Castle after this. If she doesn't come out for a stroll in the park, I fancy I'll never see her--Heigho! I wish something would happen! Why doesn't Marlanx begin bombarding? It's getting devilish monotonous here."
He strolled off to the stables, picking up Mr. Hobbs on the way.
"Hobbs," he said, "we've got to find John Tullis, that's all there is to it." He was scowling fiercely at a most inoffensive lawn-mower in the grass at the left.
"I daresay, sir," said Mr. Hobbs with sprightly decisiveness. "He's very much needed."
"I'm going to need him before long as my second."
"Your second, sir? Are you going to fight a duel?"