unately, you are a day after the fair, Captain Bothwell. Miss
Wallace has already done me the honor to consult me in an advisory
capacity."

I let him have my declaration of war with the airiest manner in the
world. My spirits were rising with the nearness of the battle, and I
thought it would do our cause not the least harm in the world to let him
see I was not a whit afraid to cross blades.

"Indeed! Then for the matter in hand I may consider you one of the
family. I congratulate you, Evie. Shall we say a brother--or a
cousin--or----"

"It isn't necessary to be a cad, Boris," she flung back hotly.

"Pardon me. You are right--neither necessary nor desirable. I offer
regrets." Then of a sudden the apology went out of his face like the
flame from a blown candle. He swung curtly around upon me. "Mr.
Sedgwick, I must trouble you for the map."

I will be the last to deny that there was something compelling about the
man. He sat there stroking his imperial, while the black eyes of the man
held mine with a grip of steel. Masterful he looked, and masterful I
found him to the last day of that deadly duel we fought out to a finish.

In that long moment of suspended animation when only our eyes
lived--crossed and felt the temper of each other as with the edge of
grinding rapiers--we took each the measure of his foe pretty accurately.
If I held my own it was but barely. The best I could claim was a drawn
battle.

"Regretfully I am compelled to decline your request."

"It is not a request but a demand. Come, sir, the map!" he repeated more
harshly.

That he would somehow back his demand I did not for an instant doubt,
though as to how I was still in the dark.

"Let _me_ set you right, Captain Bothwell. This is a law office, in the
city of San Francisco, United States of America. I am neither Tommy
Atkins nor a Russian serf. Therefore, I again decline."

Coals of fire lay in his eyes.

"I--want--that--map!"

"So I gather, and as a child you often wanted the moon. But did you get
it?" I inquired pleasantly.

"The map--the map!" He had not raised his voice a note, but I give you
my word his eyes were devilish. He was a dangerous man in an ugly frame
of mind.

"Certainly you are a man of one idea, captain. Show proof of ownership
and I shall be glad to comply with your request."

"But certainly."

So quick was his motion that the revolver seemed to have leaped to his
hand of its own accord.

"I give you my word