"Damnation!" he cried, struggling with the plunging animal, "are you mad?"
"Do me the favour to dismount," says I, suiting the action to the word, and throwing my bridle to Bentley.
"And what now?" says Raikes, staring.
"You will perceive that the road here is passably even, and the light still fairly good," says I.
"Highly dramatic, on my soul!" he sneered.
"Sir Harry Raikes," says I, stepping up to his stirrup, "you will notice that I have here a sword and a whip--which shall it be?"
The sneer left his lips on the instant, his face as suddenly grew red, and I saw the veins start out on his temples.
"What," cries he, "is it a fight you're after?"
"Exactly!" says I, and laid my hand upon my small-sword; but at this moment Bentley rode betwixt us.
"By God, you don't, Dick!" says he, laying his great hand upon my shoulder.
"By God, but I do!" says I, endeavouring vainly to shake off his grasp.
"Man, Dick," cries he, "you are a madman--and full six inches shorter in the reach! Now I--"
"You!" I broke in, "you are a mountain--besides, the quarrel is mine--come, loose me, Bentley--loose me, I say."
"No! Devil take me--do you think I'll stand by and see you murdered?"
"Bentley," I cried, "if ever you were friend of mine you will free my arm this instant."
All this time Raikes sat regarding us with a look of such open amusement as came nigh driving me frantic.
"Mr. Bentley," says he, with a flourish of his hat, "I fancy 'twould be as well for Sir Richard were I and Captain Hammersley to ride on before, yet do not loose him till I am out of sight, I beg."
"You hear, Bentley?" says I, trembling with passion. "Come--let us go--fool," I whispered under my breath, "for her sake!" Bentley's fingers twitched upon my arm.
"Ah, I thought so!" he nodded.
"Then quick, do as I bid, and get it over."
"On condition that you settle the affair in the meadow yonder--'tis a better place in all respects," says Bentley, under his breath.
"I care not where it be," says I.
"So," sneered Raikes, "you are bent on fighting, then?"
"In the meadow yonder," nodded Bentley, pointing with his whip to a field that lay beyond the narrow stone bridge, some little distance ahead.