lt tests a man's figure,
bringing out any flaw in it, and the Black Colonel's stood the test
admirably.

Moreover, he had that physical quality peculiar to the Celt which you
might call elasticity, for it is comparable to a mountain ash which
bends but does not break. There was, too, a fineness, a delicacy about
him, such as proclaims a race which has dreamt dreams and lived with
the wild glories of Nature. You cannot make common men of her
gentlemen, and her women are music to the French chanson, "It's love
that makes the world go round."

None knew this better than the Black Colonel, a Highlander with that
venturing air which goes to a woman's heart, because she fondly wants a
man who will give her the gamble of danger, and yet be strong enough to
save her from herself? You might say that he was born for quest and
conquest, what with his suavity of tongue, his grace of manner, his
roguery of eye, and his fame as a great lover.

But I was keeping him waiting and I had no desire to do that, so I
said, "You may suppose that I am not here very willingly, that it is
only duty which brings me."

"Not official duty, I hope," he answered, with an acid emphasis on the
words.

"No; I simply want, as between Highland gentlemen, to tell you two
things: first, that I return you, point blank, your overtures touching
our kinswoman, Marget Forbes, and her estate; and, second, this being
done, that I, as an officer of his Majesty's forces, will unrelentingly
discharge my commission, as best I can, next time we meet, be it soon
or not so soon."

I fired out the words as if I had been loaded with them, which, truly,
was the case, but I felt, somehow, as if the shot had not gone home.
It had no outward effect on the Black Colonel, who turned the peat
ashes of the fire with his brogued foot, and looked at the little spits
of smoke and flame which flew up. Evidently he was not so unprepared
for my ultimatum as I had expected, but I had delivered it, and the
rest was for him.

"Captain Gordon," he said, putting his hands behind his back and
looking hard at me, "I appreciate the sense of personal honour which
has brought you here. You felt you must clean the private slate
between us, before you were free to write what is to be on the public
slate. You wanted to give due declaration of war, and you have done it
at close quarters, which is the action of a Highland gentleman. But,
Captain Gordon, haven't you begun at the end of