BOTTLE leaves his position by the door,
and touches CONCHO on the shoulder.)

Starbottle. Excuse me.

Concho. Eh?

Starbottle. You have forgotten something.

Conhho. Something?

Starbottle. An apology, sir. You were good enough to
express--er--incredulity--when I presented Mr. Morton: you were kind
enough to characterize the conduct of my er--principal by--an epithet.
You have alluded to me, sir,--ME--

Concho (wrathfully). Bully! (Aside.) I have heard that this pomposo,
this braggart, is a Yankee trick too; that he has the front of a lion,
the liver of the chicken. (Aloud.) Yes, I have said, you hear I have
said, I, Concho (striking his breast), have said you are a--bully!

Starbottle (coolly). Then you are prepared to give me satisfaction,
sir,--personal satisfaction.

Concho (raging). Yes, sir, now--you understand, now (taking out pistol),
anywhere, here! Yes, here. Ah! you start,--yes, here and now! Face to
face, you understand, without seconds,--face to face. So. (Presenting
pistol.)

Starbottle (quietly). Permit me to--er--apologize.

Concho. Ah! It is too late!

Starbottle (interrupting). Excuse me, but I feared you would not honor
me so completely and satisfactorily. Ged, sir, I begin to respect you!
I accede to all your propositions of time and position. The pistol you
hold in your hand is a derringer, I presume, loaded. Ah--er--I am right.
The one I now produce (showing pistol) is--er--as you will perceive the
same size and pattern, and--er--unloaded. We will place them both, so,
under the cloth of this table. You shall draw one pistol, I will take
the other. I will put that clock at ten minutes to nine, when we will
take our positions across this table; as you--er--happily express it,
"face to face." As the clock strikes the hour, we will fire on the
second stroke.

Concho (aside). It is a trick, a Yankee trick! (Aloud.) I am ready.
Now--at once!

Starbottle (gravely). Permit me, sir, to thank you. Your conduct, sir,
reminds me of singular incident--

Concho (angrily interrupting). Come, come! It is no child's play. We
have much of this talk, eh! It is action, eh, you comprehend,--action.

(STARBOTTLE places pistols under the cloth, and sets clock. CONCHO draws
pistol from cloth; STARBOTTLE takes remaining pistol. Both men assume
position, presenting their weapons; STARBOTTLE pompously but seriously,
CONCHO angrily and nervously.)

Starbottle (after a pause). One moment, a single moment-