gn of unalterable good feeling
and mutual loyalty. Unziar included Rallywood with the two officers
beside him in this invitation, by a slight inclination of the head.

The three men accepted, but there was a little stiffening in the
attitude of each, for Rallywood had friends here who were resolved, if
only for the honour of the Frontier Corps, to see their late comrade
through the coming trouble.

Before the wine filled the glasses, Adolf was already deep in the story
of Unziar's shooting-match with Abenfeldt.

'Allow me the honour of drinking with you, Monsieur,' said Colendorp to
Rallywood. 'It was in truth a notable performance; we have never had
even in the Guard a surer shot than Unziar,' he added, alluding to the
anecdote.

Rallywood had just time to make up his mind and determine upon his
course of action.

The glasses clinked together, and then clashed upon the floor, where the
men set their heels upon them. Then Rallywood turned to Unziar:

'I compliment you, Lieutenant Unziar,' he said. 'I already knew that you
were a swordsman not easily to be matched; since, in fact, the little
affair at Alfau, when I had the pleasure of acting as your second. But
the pistol is, I venture to say, another matter.'

Unziar set his shoulders back with an indescribable suggestion of
scornful defiance.

'May I ask you to state precisely what you mean, Monsieur?' he answered.

'I mean that although a man may shoot any number of swallows of a
morning before breakfast, it does not follow that he can hit a man at,
say, twenty paces.' Rallywood spoke deliberately.

The whole group of men listened in silence. Then Unziar leant towards
Rallywood with a smile.

'We can but try, Captain Rallywood,' he said gently.

Although everyone in their immediate neighbourhood was listening, from
the other side of the hall they looked, no doubt, like a group of tall
men engaged in the ordinary conversation and common amenities of
society, the only noticeable difference being that Unziar was a little
more deprecating and low-voiced than usual. Elmur, standing near by,
filled his glass and drank, with a silent nod at Unziar.

'I shall be delighted to assist you in settling the question,' returned
Rallywood; then, consulting his card, he added, I find I have an
engagement for the last dance, some twenty minutes hence. May I
recommend the interval to your consideration?'

The two frontier men stepped forward simultaneously to offer thei