LORD OF MANY SECRETS

FIFTY

The doctor turned his back, and the seconds retreated to a distance of eight paces. Patrick was conscious of a sharp wind, ruffling his yellow locks, he fixed his eyes on Ferdinand, trying to decide on some object on his dress to choose as his mark.

Mr Fritzwa was holding up a handkerchief, it fluttered in the wind, a splash of white against a background of grey.

Then, before the word could be given, an interruption took place. A third coach, this time a heavy, lumbering affair, had driven up, and several men now jumped down from it, and came running toward the duelists, shouting, "in the name of the Law! Hold!"

Patrick jerked his head round, heard a stifled oath from Ferdinand, and the next minute was in the grip of a burly officer.

"I arrest you in the name of the Law!" puffed this individual. "Attempt to break the peace! I shall have to take you before a magistrate".

Mr Fritzwa, who admitted afterward that he had never been so glad to see a constable before, heaved one long sigh of relief, and said, "oh, very well! Nothing for it, Parte. You had better put on your coat again".

Mr Ferdinand, in the grip of a second constable, showed a disposition to resist. "Who set you on?" he demanded.

"Acting on information received", was he curt reply. "Now give me that pistol, sir! It ain't no use resisting".

An unwelcome suspicion crossed Patrick's mind. He said quickly, "do you know who lodged the information?"

"No, nor it ain't my business", answered the constable. "You put on your coat, sir, and come with us".

Mr Fritzwa went to lend Patrick a hand. "Do you suspect someone?" he asked in an under voice.

"By God I do, and I mean to know the truth!"

"Who knew of it?"

"My cousin", said Patrick. "But I did not tell him the place of rendezvous - of that I am perfectly certain! How he found that out, if it was he..."

"But, Parte, surely he wouldn't inform the magistrates if you told him in confidence, which I suppose you must have?"

"I don't know, but I shall find out!" said Patrick, buttoning up his great coat.

Mr Fritzwa turned with sudden suspicion to the doctor, who was standing beside him. "I take it you know nothing of this, Larry?"

The doctor replied in a dry tone, "I did not lay information against your principal, sir, but I am forced to admit that it may be through me that this duel has been interrupted. If it was so I cannot regret it, though I certainly did but intend to".

"What the devil do you mean?" said Mr Fritzwa.

The doctor tucked his case of instruments under his arm. "Yesterday, sir", he said, "not long after you left from my place, I received a visit from another gentleman requiring my services in an affair of honor today. I told him that it was quite out of my power, since I was already engaged.

He gave me to understand that he was acting as second to your opponent - a fact I could readily believe, as it would be an odd, almost an unprecedented occurrence, for two duels to be fought in Rome upon the same day.

I informed this gentleman that I could not disclose the name of my principal, though I should have no objection to attending to his man as well if he should prove to be the unknown adversary. He realized the propriety of my scruples, and at once made it plain to me that he was conversant with your affair by giving me the names of yourself and Sir Patrick Tellaro. I said that I should be happy to do what I could for his principal, and, as I recollect, we fell into some slight conversation, during the course of which I might have easily mentioned the place of rendezvous.

When you opponent came on to the ground, sir, and I perceived his friend to be totally unlike my visitor, I own I felt some surprise. But upon reflection I could not recollect that my visitor actually stated that he was acting as a second in the affair, and I concluded that I might have misunderstood him, and that he had come to me in place of the second".

"What was he like?" demanded Patrick, who had listened to this speech with considerable impatience. "Was he tall, rather dark, and elegantly dressed?"

"Yes", said the doctor. "Certainly he was tall. I should describe him as very dark. He was a gentleman-like man, quiet in his manner, and with a pronounced air of fashion".

"I knew it!" said Patrick. "My cousin to the life!"

At this point one of the constables came up to request their following him to the coach. They could only obey, and in a few minutes the whole party was being driven off to the nearest magistrate.

It was fully an hour later before the principals were at liberty to go their several ways. Both were bound over to keep the peace, a great many formalities were gone through, sureties were paid, the magistrate read them a lecture, and Mr Fritzwa longed for his breakfast. At last they were set free. Mr Ferdinand and his second, both wearing the blackest of scowls, drove away in their chaise, and Patrick and Mr Fritzwa went off to Cork Street, the doctor having gone away in a hackney some time previously.

* * *

The secret of the duel was soon out. Patrick arrived in Spear Street shortly after eleven o'clock to find his valet, who had given him up for lost an hour before, standing over Miss Tellaro while she read her brother's farewell letter.

"Oh God!" burst from Miss Tellaro's lips just as Patrick walked into the room. The sheets of the letter fluttered to the ground. Miss Tellaro sprang up crying, "I must go at once! What have they done to him? Where is Fritzwa?" Then she caught sight of Patrick in the doorway, and the next instant was in his arms. "Parte! Oh Parte, my darling, you are safe!"