rtain reasons why I cannot fight you myself."

"To be sure."

"It would be too much like murder," continued the innkeeper. "Your
hand would tremble so that you would miss me at point-blank. There
goes the last of the sun. We must hurry."

With a grimace the Count accepted the box and took out the pistols.

"They are old-fashioned," he said.

"A deal like the innkeeper's morals," supplemented the Prince.

"But effective," said the innkeeper.

The Count scowled at the old fellow, who met the look with phlegm. As
an innkeeper he might be an inferior, but as a second at a duel he was
an equal. It was altogether a different matter.

The Count carefully loaded the weapons, the innkeeper watching him
attentively. In his turn he examined them.

"Very good," he said.

The paces were then measured out. During this labor the Prince gazed
indifferently toward the west. The aftermath of the sun glowed on the
horizon. The Prince shaded his eyes for a spell.

"Gentlemen," he said, "I believe the Princess is approaching. At any
rate here comes the coach. Let us suspend hostilities till she has
passed."

A few minutes later the coach came rumbling along in a whirlwind of
dust. The stoical cavalrymen kept on without so much as a glance at
the quartet standing at the side of the road. Hillars looked after the
vehicle till it was obscured from view. Then he shook himself out of
the dream into which he had fallen. He was pale now, and his eyebrows
were drawn together as the Count held out the pistol.

"Ah, yes!" he said, as though he had forgotten. "There goes the woman
who will never become your wife."

"That shall be decided at once," was the retort of the Prince.

"She will marry the gentleman back at the inn."

"A fine husband he will make, truly!" replied the Prince. "He not only
deserts her but forsakes her champion. But, that is neither here nor
there. We shall not go through any polite formalities," his eyes
snapping viciously.

The two combatants took their places in the centre of the road. The
pistol arm of each hung at the side of the body.

"Are you ready, gentlemen?" asked the Count, the barest tremor in his
voice.

"Yes," said the Prince.

Hillars simply nodded.

"When I have counted three you will be at liberty to fire. One!"

The arms raised slowly till the pistols were on the level of the eyes.

"Two!"

The innkeeper saw Hillars move his lips. That was the only sign.

"