ciation of greater security, Paul could not
tell. He seemed to recover his swagger again, as he said,--

"I shall hear what Colonel Pendleton has to say first. But I shall
hold myself in readiness to meet you afterwards--you shall not fear,
sir!"

Paul remained looking from the one to the other without speaking. It
was Don Caesar who returned his glance boldly and defiantly, Colonel
Pendleton who, with thin white fingers pulling his moustache, evaded
it. Then Paul unlocked the door, and said slowly, "In five minutes I
leave this house for the station. I shall wait there until the train
arrives. If this gentleman does not join me, I shall be better able to
understand all this and take measures accordingly."

"And I tell to you, Meester Hathaway, sir," said Don Caesar, striking
an attitude in the doorway, "you shall do as I please--Caramba!--and
shall beg"--

"Hold your tongue, sir--or, by the Eternal!"--burst out Pendleton
suddenly, bringing down his thin hand on the Mexican's shoulder. He
stopped as suddenly. "Gentlemen, this is childish. Go, sir!" to Don
Caesar, pointing with a gaunt white finger into the darkened hall. "I
will follow you. Mr. Hathaway, as an older man, and one who has seen a
good deal of foolish altercation, I regret, sir, deeply regret, to be a
witness to this belligerent quality in a law-maker and a public man;
and I must deprecate, sir--deprecate, your demand on that gentleman for
what, in the folly of youth, you are pleased to call personal
satisfaction."

As he moved with dignity out of the room, Paul remained blankly staring
after him. Was it all a dream?--or was this Colonel Pendleton the
duelist? Had the old man gone crazy, or was he merely acting to veil
some wild purpose? His sudden arrival showed that Yerba must have sent
for him and told him of Don Caesar's threats; would he be wild enough
to attempt to strangle the man in some remote room or in the darkness
of the passage? He stepped softly into the hall: he could still hear
the double tread of the two men: they had reached the staircase--they
were DESCENDING! He heard the drowsy accents of the night porter and
the swinging of the door--they were in the street!

Wherever they were going, or for what purpose, HE must be at the
station, as he had warned them he would be. He hastily threw a few
things into his valise, and prepared to follow them. When he went
downstairs he informed the porter that owing to an urgent ca