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"Billie, listen, dear. The man was Le Gaire's servant, his slave, but also his son. He was here with his master, but you never knew of the real relationship between them. The boy was our guide last night, and he told me his story of how justly he hated Le Gaire. Shall I tell it to you now, or wait? The doctor is coming." She glanced from my face up into that of the approaching surgeon.
There was a thud of horses' hoofs behind the stable, Bell's half-spoken word, and the sharp bark of Le Gaire's levelled derringer. I felt the impact of the ball, and spun half around, the pressure of my finger discharging my own weapon in the air, yet kept my feet. I was shocked, dazed, but conscious I remained unhurt.
Bell's eyes shifted questioningly toward me. "Surely Lieutenant Galesworth will not desire to take any undue advantage," he ventured. "Was not that Captain Le Gaire's idea?" I returned sharply. "He has the reputation of expert swordsmanship." "He is a swordsman, yes, but does not profess to excel with the sabre." I waited a moment in silence, permitting my hesitancy to become plainly apparent.
Both men had their revolvers drawn, and, from their positions, and Le Gaire's attitude, apparently trouble was anticipated. He was in the middle of the room, with hands clinched and eyes blazing, and wheeled to face me as I entered. "Oh, it's you, is it!" he exclaimed, sudden anger sweeping away every vestige of control. "I may be a prisoner, but I'll be damned if I'll keep still.
I could tell by her aroused interest that I was succeeding, while her questions gave me some inkling as to what she had been previously led to believe. After my account of the duel and Le Gaire's escape I stopped to ask, "Miss Billie, do you believe all this?" "Oh, I must! You surely would not dare say what you have, unless certain my father would sustain you." "But is it hard to believe?"
I started to speak, but before the first uncertain word came to my lips, the girl swept forward, and stood between us. "Let me explain," she cried swiftly. "This gentleman is a friend of Captain Le Gaire's, and was presented to me as Major Atherton, formerly on General Pemberton's staff perhaps there may be some here who know him?"
I was riding with Billie through the early morning, and seeing her face for the first time with the sunlight reflected in her smiling eyes; I was facing Grant, receiving orders; I was struggling with Le Gaire, his olive face vindictive and cruel; I was with Billie again, hearing her voice, tantalized by her coquetry; then I was searching for Le Gaire's murderer, and in the fight, slashing madly at the faces fronting me.
But now I began to reflect along that line, yet never for a moment forgetting our situation, or its peril. I was going down into the neighborhood where Willifred Hardy lived to which she had probably already returned. I was going as an enemy to her cause, guided by an ex-slave of Le Gaire's.
The look of amazement on Le Gaire's face, his utter inability to comprehend the meaning of it all, or why he had thus aroused the enmity of his brother officers, gave me a sudden feeling of compassion. I stepped toward him. Perhaps he mistook my purpose, for he staggered partially erect. "Damn you!" he yelled.
"Well, Captain Bell, much as I prefer the weapons already named, I will nevertheless consent to a change. I am ready to concede anything if I can only compel your man to fight." "Do you mean to question Captain Le Gaire's courage, sir?" hotly. "He seems to be fairly solicitous about his own safety, at least," chimed in Hardy. "Go on, Bell, and talk it over with him this is not our row."
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