D'EGVILLE ; OR, THE DUELLIST. 541 



traversed the room ; when he repaused, and said in a deep tone 

 '' Yes, it shall be so; I will rid the world of a murderer at the 

 expense of my life Tropic, where the d are you ? " 



" Here, Sir." He grasped my hand with a force that brought the 

 blood to my nails ; and, looking me in the face said 



" Will you be my friend on this occasion ? '' To remonstrate with 

 him for inconsistency in his present state of mind were madness : 

 besides, I felt too indignant at D'JEgville's conduct to attempt 

 to pacify him. I, therefore, answered in the affirmative. " Listen 



then to the terms I intend sending this " he paused for an 



epithet ; but memory could not supply him any one with which he 

 chose to designate his enemy. He briefly told me of theplan he had 

 formed to rid the world of D'Egeville, and at the same time sacrificing 

 himself. His proposal was so dreadful, that after a pause I declined 

 being his second. 



" What!" said he, " you would be my friend, as it is called, and 

 place me at ten or twelve paces for the assassin safely to destroy me ? 

 no matter, I will seek some other but where ? true ! No one 

 will, perhaps, second a man who they are sure would be killed, so 

 I'll meet him without a second. Willthorpe, the bullet-splitter shall 

 officiate for both !" I was in a horrid dilemma. I had to choose be- 

 tween the alternative of seconding him in an affair in which both the 

 principals were morally sure of being killed, or of leaving him to fall 

 unattended by a friend perhaps exposed to the machinations of 

 Willthorpe, whose conduct and character were infamous. After a 

 moment's consideration, a kind of hope whispered to me that Stewart 

 would escape. 



" I will be your friend," I exclaimed, " in this dreadful affair." 

 He said nothing, but embraced me. " But hold ! I must send four 

 of our seamen to dig our grave; then write my will, and give direc- 

 tions to my mate remember, the hour is six ; and the place, on 

 the beach behind Iguana rock. On no other consideration will I 

 fight/' 



" I will recollect." 



" Away, then !" I left him, sought the dwelling of D'Egville ; 

 and was ushered into his presence. 



Although it was two o'clock he was at dcjeune; this repast consisted 

 of a strongly-seasoned dish, called " pepper-pot," and a bottle of 

 claret ; on my entering he arose, bowed, and said, f( a votre service, 

 Monsieur." I briefly thanked him, declined his invitation, and in- 

 forming him that I bore a message from Captain Stewart. At hearing 

 this his countenance brightened, and took a demoniac smile ; antici- 

 pating my errand he said, 



" Ah, he at length consents to meet me : I wonder a man of his 

 former profession should give me so much trouble to make him act 

 like ' un homme comme il faut.' " 



" You have rightly guessed the cause of this visit; and will, of 

 course, have no objection to meet my friend, at the place that Captain 

 Willthorpe proposed ?" 



" None whaterer." 



