ce, preserved your honor.

Oakhurst. Yes. Hear me, Col. Starbottle. I have summoned you here
to-night, as I have already intimated, on an affair of honor. I have
sought you as my father's legal counsel, as a disinterested witness, as
a gentleman of honor. The man who lies before you was once my friend and
partner. I have wronged him doubly. As his partner, I ran away with the
woman he believed, and still believes, to be his wife; as his friend,
I have for a twelvemonth kept him from the enjoyment of his home, his
patrimony, by a shameful deception. I have summoned you to-night to
witness my confession; as a lawyer, to arrange those details necessary
to restore to him his property; as a man of honor, to receive from me
whatever retribution he demands. You will be a witness to our
interview. Whatever befalls me here, you will explain to Mr. Morton--to
Jovita--that I accepted it as a man, and did not avoid, here or
elsewhere, the penalty of my crime. (Folding his arms.)

Slarbottle. Umph! The case is, as you say, a delicate one, but
not--not--peculiar. No, sir! Ged, sir, I remember Tom Marshall--know Tom
Marshall of Kentucky?--said to me, "Star!"--always calls me Star,--"how
in blank, sir, can you remember the REAL names of your clients?"--"Why,"
says I, "Tom," always called him Tom,--"yesterday I was called to make
will--most distinguished family of Virginia--as lawyer and gentleman,
you understand: can't mention name. Waited for signature--most
distinguished name: Ged, sir, man signed Bloggins,--Peter Bloggins.
Fact, demme! 'Mistake,' I said,--'excitement; exaltation of fever. Non
compos. Compose yourself, Bob.'--'Star,' he said,--always called me
Star,--'for forty-seven years I have been an impostor!'--his very words,
sir. 'I am not'--you understand: 'I AM Peter Bloggins!'"

Oakhurst. But, my dear colonel, I--

Starbottle (loftily). Say no more, sir! I accept the--er position. Let
us see! The gentleman will, on recognition, probably make a personal
attack. You are armed. Ah, no? Umph! On reflection I would not permit
him to strike a single blow: I would anticipate it. It will provoke the
challenge from him, leaving YOU, sir, the--er--choice of weapons.

Oakhurst. Hush! he is moving! Take your stand here, in this alcove.
Remember, as a gentleman, and a man of honor, Col. Starbottle, I trust
you not to interfere between the injured man and--justice! (Pushes COL.
STARBOTTLE into alcove behind couch, and approaches SAND