a moment mused; then it seemed to me my duty lay most plain on
the side of the living; and I ran after him, leaving the candles on the
frosty ground and the body lying in their light under the trees. But run
as I pleased, he had the start of me, and was got into the house, and up
to the hall, where I found him standing before the fire with his face
once more in his hands, and as he so stood he visibly shuddered.

"Mr. Henry, Mr. Henry," I said, "this will be the ruin of us all."

"What is this that I have done?" cries he, and then looking upon me with
a countenance that I shall never forget, "Who is to tell the old man?"
he said.

The word knocked at my heart; but it was no time for weakness. I went
and poured him out a glass of brandy. "Drink that," said I, "drink it
down." I forced him to swallow it like a child; and, being still
perished with the cold of the night, I followed his example.

"It has to be told, Mackellar," said he. "It must be told." And he fell
suddenly in a seat--my old lord's seat by the chimney-side--and was
shaken with dry sobs.

Dismay came upon my soul; it was plain there was no help in Mr. Henry.
"Well," said I, "sit there, and leave all to me." And taking a candle in
my hand, I set forth out of the room in the dark house. There was no
movement; I must suppose that all had gone unobserved; and I was now to
consider how to smuggle through the rest with the like secrecy. It was
no hour for scruples; and I opened my lady's door without so much as a
knock, and passed boldly in.

"There is some calamity happened," she cried, sitting up in bed.

"Madam," said I, "I will go forth again into the passage; and do you get
as quickly as you can into your clothes. There is much to be done."

She troubled me with no questions, nor did she keep me waiting. Ere I
had time to prepare a word of that which I must say to her, she was on
the threshold signing me to enter.

"Madam," said I, "if you cannot be very brave, I must go elsewhere; for
if no one helps me to-night, there is an end of the house of
Durrisdeer."

"I am very courageous," said she; and she looked at me with a sort of
smile, very painful to see, but very brave too.

"It has come to a duel," said I.

"A duel?" she repeated. "A duel! Henry and----"

"And the Master," said I. "Things have been borne so long, things of
which you know nothing, which you would not believe if I should tell.
But to-night it went too far, and when he insulte