them boys is gathered together, sez I, it ain't the Lord, but
the devil, that's in the midst of them, sez I. And you know it, squire."

Mr. Force grunted, in a non-committal sort of way, and the witness
continued:

"So I just off with the table cover, and wrapped it round my head and
shoulders, and I listened through the little opening of the door. I
couldn't hear much, 'cause the wind was blustering, and most of what I did
hear was bad words--like--well, 'scown-der-awl,' and such. You know,
squire."

Mr. Force nodded.

"But at last I heard something as pretty nigh made my hair rise right up
and lift the table cover offen my head. And it certainly did make ice
water trickle all down my backbone! And this is what I heard: 'To fight a
duel, or to do a murder!' Yes, squire, that was what them two young hyenas
was a-planning--them two there, standing by the mantelpiece!"

The two young men bowed to the compliment, and the witness went on:

"Them was the only connected words I heard. And I heard them, 'cause they
was said in such a grim, gritty way there was no preventing me from
hearing of 'em. But, still, I made out as Roland--him there, a-grinning
like a tomfool--was to carry a challenge from Leonidas Force--him there,
a-winking like a magpie as has just hid a thimble--to Col. Anglesea, at
the Calvert House. And then Mr. Leonidas rode away, and Roland ran into
the house so sudden he almost tumbled over me. Yes, you did, you young
rhine-horse-o-rus!" she added, shaking her finger at Roland, who dropped
his eyes and smote his breast in mock penitence.

"Well, squire, you may be sure as I never let on to my young gentleman as
I knowed anything about what he was up to. It wouldn't have done no good,
you see. But I watched him. He carried a folded paper in his hand, like a
letter, and he put it on the mantelpiece, and went upstairs, a-saying as
he was going out; that I mustn't wait tea for him, as he mightn't be home
till late. And soon's ever he was gone, I ups and takes that letter. The
hungwallop was stuck together werry slight, and I opened it easy, without
tearing, and took out the sheet of note paper, and read it. Lord, if all
my skin didn't go into goose flesh! Of all the bloody-minded, murderous
notes as ever was wrote. But you saw it, squire. You know!"

"Yes," said Mr. Force, taking up a little piece of folded paper and
holding it in readiness.

"Why, she intercepted the challenge! I remember I thought the