CHAPTER IV.
THE DUEL.
The discoveries I made were more varied and interesting than agreeable:and I found plenty of evidence to more than justify my first illimpressions of Olga's real brother.
It was time indeed that there should be a change.
The man must have gone off without even waiting to sort his papers.
Rummaging in some locked drawers, the keys of which I found in a littlecabinet that I broke open, I came across a diary with a number ofentries with long gaps between them, which seemed to throw a good dealof light on my past.
There were indications of three separate intrigues which I wasapparently carrying on at that very time; the initials of the womenbeing "P.T.," "A.P.," and "B.G." The last-named, I may say at once, Inever heard of or discovered: though in some correspondence I readafterwards, I came across some undated letters signed with theinitials, making and accepting and declining certain appointments. Butboth "P.T." and "A.P." were the cause of trouble afterwards.
I found that a number of appointments of all kinds were fixed for thefollowing afternoon. The initials of the persons only were given, butenough particulars were added to shew the nature of the business. Thussomeone was coming for a bet of 1,000 roubles; a money lender was duewho had seemingly declared that he would wait no longer; and quite anumber of tradesmen for their bills.
I soon saw the reason for all this. I was evidently a fellow with aturn for a certain kind of humour; and I had obviously made theappointments in the full assurance either that Devinsky's sword wouldhave squared all earthly accounts in full for me, or that I should besafe across the frontier and out of my creditors' way.
I recalled with a chuckle my words to Olga--that if I were to play thepart I must play it thoroughly. This meant that not only must I fightthe beggar's duel for him, but if I were not killed, fence with hiscreditors also or pay their claims.
I swept everything at length into one of the biggest and strongestdrawers, locked them up, and sat down to think for a few minutes beforegoing to bed.
If I fell in the morning I wished Rupert Balestier to hear of it; andthe only means by which that could be done would be for me to write anote and get Olga to post it. Half a dozen words would be enough:
"MY DEAR RUPERT,
"The end has come much sooner than I hoped when writing you thisafternoon. A queer adventure has landed me in a duel for to-morrowmorning with a man who is known as a good swordsman. He may prove toomuch for me. If so, good-bye old friend, and so much the better. Itwill save an awful lot of trouble; and the world and I are quite readyto be quit of one another. The receipt of this letter posted by afriendly hand will be a sign to you that I have fallen. Again,good-bye, old fellow. H.T."
I did not put my name in full, to lessen the chance of complicationshould the letter go astray. I addressed it, and then put it under aseparate cover. Next I wrote a short note to my sister; and this hadto be ambiguously worded, lest it also should get into the wrong hands.
"MY DEAR SISTER,
"You know of my duel with Major Devinsky and that it is in honourunavoidable. Should I fall, I have one or two last words. I have manydebts; but had arranged to pay them to-morrow; and I have more thanenough money in English bank notes for the purpose. Pay everything andkeep for yourself the balance, or do with it what you think best. Mymoney could be used in no better way than to clear up entirely thispart of my life. I ask you to post the enclosed letter to England; andplease do so, without even reading the address. This is my one request.
"God bless you, Olga, and find you a better protector than I have beenable to be.
Your brother, "ALEXIS."
This I sealed up and then enclosed the whole in an envelope togetherwith about L2,000 in bank notes which I had brought with me fromEngland. The envelope I addressed to my "sister" and determined to askmy chief second, Lieutenant Essaieff, to give it to Olga, should I fall.
One other little task I had. I went through my clothes and my own fewpapers and carefully destroyed every trace of connection with HamyltonTregethner, so that there should be nothing to complicate the matter ofidentity in the event of my death.
So far so good--if Devinsky killed me. But what if I could beat him?
The quarrel was none of mine. I had no right to go out and even fighta man in an assumed character, to say nothing of killing him. Look atthe thing as I would I could make nothing else than murder of it; andvery treacherous murder, to boot.
The man was doubtless a bully, and he seemed willing to use hissuperior skill to fix a quarrel on Olga's brother and kill him, inorder to leave the girl without protection. But his blackguardism wasno excuse for my killing him. I had no right to interfere. I hadnever seen her or him until the last few hours; and however much MajorDevinsky deserved punishment, I had no authority to administer it.
Probably if the man knew how I could use the sword he would never havedreamt of challenging me; and I could not substitute my exceptionalskill for Olga's brother's lack of it and so kill the man, withoutbeing in fact, whatever I might seem in appearance, an assassin.
If I were to warn him before the duel that a great mistake had beenmade as to my skill, I shouldn't be believed. He and others would onlythink I was keeping up the braggart conduct of that evening at theclub. At the same time I liked the idea of the warning. It would atany rate be original, especially if I succeeded in beating the major.But it was clear that I could not kill him.
All roads led round to that decision: and as I had come to the end ofmy cigar and there was plenty of reason why I should have as much sleepas possible, I went to bed and slept like a top till my man, Vosk,called me early in the morning and told me that Lieutenant Gradinsk wasalready waiting for me.
"That beggar, Essaieff, has gone on to the Common"--this was where wewere to fight--"Told me to tell you. Suppose he doesn't care to beseen in our company. I hate the snob," he said when I joined him.
"So long as he's there when I want him, it's enough for me," said I, socurtly, that my companion looked at me in some astonishment.
"Umph, don't seem over cheerful this morning, Alexis. Must perk up abit and shew a bold front. It's an ugly business this, but you won'thelp yourself now by...."
"Silence," I cried sternly. "When I'm afraid, you may find courage totell me so openly. At present it's dangerous."
Then I completed my few preparations in absolute silence, both Gradinskand the servant watching me in astonishment. When I was ready, Iturned to Vosk.
"What wages are due to you?" I asked sharply. He told me, and I paidhim, adding the amount for three months' further. "You leave myservice at once. I have no further need of you." I was in truthanxious to get rid of him.
"My things are here. I...." he began, obviously making excuses.
"I give you five minutes to take what is absolutely necessary. Therest you can have another time. You will not return here."
"Do you suspect..." he began again.
"I only discharge you," I returned curtly. "Half of one of yourminutes is gone." He looked at me a moment, fear mingled with hisutter astonishment, and then went out of the room.
Five minutes later I locked the doors behind us and put the keys in mypocket.
"What has he done, Alexis? Isn't it rather risky? You've been sointimate...." said Gradinsk, as soon as we were in the droschky.
"It is I who have done this, not he," I answered, sharply. "It is myprivate affair if you please."
"D---- your private affairs," he cried in a burst of temper. "Even ifyou are going to die, you needn't behave like a sullen hog."
I stared round at him coldly.
"After the meeting I shall ask you to withdraw that, LieutenantGradinsk," and we did not exchange another word till the place ofmeeting was reached.
We were the last to arrive: and there appeared to have been some doubtas to whether I should dare to turn up, I think; for I caught asignificant gesture pass between my oppon
ent's seconds.
How I looked I know not; but I felt very dangerous, and I tried to beperfectly calm and self-possessed and natural in my manner.
"Lieutenant Essaieff," I said, drawing my chief second on one sideafter I had saluted the others. "There are two matters to bementioned. If I should fall, will you give this letter with your ownhands immediately to my sister?"
"You have my word on that," he said, bowing gravely.
"One thing more. I have an explanation to make to my opponent, MajorDevinsky, which I think should be made in the hearing of all."
"An apology?" he asked, with a slight curl of the lip.
"No, but an explanation without which this duel cannot take place.Will you arrange it?"
He went to Devinsky's seconds, and then returning fetched me andGradinsk, who was very nervous. I went up to the other group and spokevery quietly but firmly.
"Before the duel takes place, Major Devinsky, I must make such anexplanation as will prevent its being fought under a mistake. I am amuch more expert swordsman than is currently known. I have purposelyconcealed my skill during the months I have been in Moscow; but Icannot engage with you now, without making the fact known. I haveindeed rather drawn you into this affair and I now desire you to joinwith me in declining to carry the dispute further. After thisexplanation, and at any future time I shall of course be at yourdisposal."
The effect of this short speech was pretty much what might have beenexpected. All the men thought I was trying to get out of the fight byimpudent bragging, and Devinsky's seconds laughed sneeringly.
I turned away as I finished speaking, but a minute later, Essaieffbrought me a message--and the contempt rang in his tone as he deliveredit.
"Major Devinsky's reply to your extraordinary request is this: The onlyterms on which he will let you off the fight are an unconditionalcompliance with the condition he has already named to you. What isyour answer?"
"We will fight," I replied shortly: and forthwith threw off my coat andvest and made ready.
I eyed my antagonist with the keenest vigilance during the minute ortwo the seconds took in placing us, and I saw a certain boastfulconfidence in his looks and a swagger in his manner, which wereeloquent of the cheap contempt in which he held me--a sentiment thatwas shared by all present.
My second, Essaieff, manifestly did not like his task; but he dideverything in a workmanlike way which shewed me he knew well what hewas about, and in a very short time our swords were crossed and we hadthe word to engage.
An ugly glint in the major's eyes told me he had come out to kill if hecould; and the manner in which he pressed the fight from the outsetshewed me that he thought he could finish it off straight away.
He was a good swordsman: I could tell that the instant our bladestouched: and he had one or two pretty tricks which wanted watching andwould be sure to have very ugly consequences for anyone whose eye andwrist were less quick than his own. As he fought I could readily seehow he had gained his big reputation and had so often left the fieldvictorious after only a few minutes' fighting.
But he was not to be compared with me. In two minutes I knew preciselyhis tactics and at every point I could outfight him. I had no needeven to exert myself. After a few passes, all my old love of the artcame back to me and all my old skill; and when he made his deadliestand trickiest lunges I parried them without an effort, and could havecountered with fatal effect.
I wished to get the fullest measure of his skill, however, and for thisreason did not attempt to touch him for some minutes. Then an ideaoccurred to me. I would prove to the men with us that I had no realwish to avoid the fight. Intentionally I let my adversary touch myleft arm, drawing a little blood.
They stopped us instantly; and then came the question whether enoughhad been done to satisfy the demands of honour. Had I chosen, I couldwithout actual cowardice have declared the thing finished: but Iintended them all to understand that I had to the full as keen anappetite as my opponent for the business. I was peremptory thereforein my demand to go on.
In the pause I made my plan. I would cover my adversary with ridiculeby outfencing him at all points: play with him, in fact; and give him ahundred little skin wounds to shew him and the rest how completely hehad been at my mercy.
I did it with consummate ease. My sword point played round him as anelectric spark will dart about a magnet, and he was like a child in hisfeeble efforts to follow its dazzling swiftness. Scarcely had weengaged before I had flicked a piece of skin from his cheek. The nexttime it was from his sword arm. Then from his neck, and after thatfrom his other cheek; until there was no part of his flesh in viewwhich had not a drop of blood to mark that my sword point had beenthere. The man was mad with baffled and impotent rage.
Then I put an end to it. After the last rest I put the whole of myenergy and skill into my play, and pressed him so hard that any one ofthe onlookers could see I could have run him through the heart half adozen times: and at the end of it I disarmed him with a wrench that waslike to break his wrist.
To do the man justice, he had pluck. He made sure I meant to kill him,but he faced me resolutely enough when I raised my sword and put thepoint right at his heart.
"One word," said I, sternly. "I have put this indignity on you becauseof the insolent message you sent to me by Lieutenant Essaieff. But forthat I would simply have disarmed you at once and made an end of thething. Now, remember me by this...." I raised my sword and struck himwith the flat side of it across the face, leaving an ugly red trail.
Then I turned on my heel and went to where my seconds stood, lost instaring amazement at what I had done. I put on my clothes in silence;and as I glanced about me I saw that the scene had created a powerfulimpression upon everybody present.
All men are irresistibly influenced by skill such as I had shewn undercircumstances of the kind; and the utter humbling of a bully who hadridden rough-shod over the whole regiment was agreeable enough now thatit had been accomplished. My own evil character was forgotten in thefact that I had beaten the man who had beaten everybody else and tradedon his deadly reputation.
Lieutenant Essaieff came to me as I was turning to leave the placealone. He gave me back the letter I had entrusted to him, and after amomentary hesitation, said:--
"Petrovitch, I did you an injustice, and I am sorry for it. I thoughtyou were afraid, and I had no idea that you had anything like suchpluck and skill. I believed you were blustering; and I apologise toyou for the way in which I brought Devinsky's message. But for whathappened last night in your rooms"--and he drew himself up as hespoke--"I am at your service if you desire it."
"I'd much rather breakfast than fight with you to-morrow morning,Essaieff, if you won't think me a coward for crying off the encounter."
"After this morning no one will ever call you a coward;" said he; and Ithink he was a good deal relieved at not having to stand in front of asword which could do what mine had just done. "Shall we drive backtogether?"
We saluted the others ceremoniously, my late antagonist scowling veryangrily as he made an abrupt and formal gesture. Then I snubbedGradinsk, who looked very white, remembering what I had said to himwhen driving to the ground; and Lieutenant Essaieff and I left together.
"How is it we have all been so mistaken in you, Petrovitch?" asked mycompanion when we had lighted our cigarettes.
"How is it that I have been so mistaken in you?" I retorted. "I choseto take my own way, that's all. I wished to know the relish of thereputation for cowardice, if you like. I have never been out before inMoscow, as you know; and have never had to shew what I could do witheither sword or pistol. Nor did I seek this quarrel. But because Ihave never fought till I was compelled, that does not mean that I can'tfight when I am compelled. But the truth's out now, and it may as wellall be known. Come to my rooms for five minutes before breakfast--I amgoing to my sister's to breakfast--and I'll shew you what I can do withthe pistols. It may prevent anyone making the mistake of choo
singthose should there be any more of this morning's work to do."
"I hope you can keep your head," he said, after a pause. "You'll beabout the most popular man in the whole regiment after to-day'sbusiness. I don't believe there's a more hated man in the whole citythan Devinsky; and everyone's sure to love you for making him bite thedust. I suppose you're coming to the ball at the Zemliczka Palaceto-night. You'll be the lion."
There was a touch of envy in his voice, I think, and he smiled when Ianswered indifferently that I had not decided. As a fact I didn't knowwhether I had any invitation or not, so that my indifference was by nomeans feigned.
When we reached my rooms I took him in and as I wished to noise abroadso far as possible the fact of my skill with weapons, I shewed him someof the trick shots I had learnt. Pistol shooting had been with me, asI have said, quite a passion at one time and I had practised until Icould hit anything within range, either stationary or moving. Morethan that, I was an expert in the reflection shot--shooting over myshoulder at a mark I could see reflected in a mirror held in front ofme. Indeed there was scarcely a trick with the pistol which I did notknow and had not practised.
The lieutenant had not words enough to express his amazement andadmiration; and when I sent him away after about a quarter of an hour'sshooting such as he had never seen, he was reduced to a condition ofspeechless wonder.
Then I dressed carefully, having bathed and attended to the light woundon my arm, and set out to relieve my "sister's" suspense and keep myappointment for breakfast. I found myself thinking pleasantly of thepretty, kindly little face of the girl, and when I saw a light ofinfinite relief and gladness sparkle in her eyes at sight of me safeand sound and punctual, I experienced a much more gratifying sensationthan I had expected.
Her face was somewhat white and drawn and her eyes hollow, telling of asleepless, anxious night; and she grasped my hand so warmly and was somoved, that I could not fail to see that she had been worrying lesttrouble had come to me through her action of the previous day.
"You haven't had so much sleep as I have, Olga," I said, lightly.
"Are you really safe, quite safe, and unhurt? And have you really beenmad enough to go out and fight that man? Oh, I could not sleep a winkall night for thinking of you and of the cruel gleam I have seen in hiseyes." And she covered her face with her hands and shivered.
"Getting up early in the morning always gives me an unconscionableappetite, Olga. I thought you knew that," said I lightly and with alaugh. "But I see no breakfast; and that's hardly sisterly, you know."
"It's all in the next room ready," she answered, leading the way. "Buttell me the news:" and her face was all aglow with eager inquiry.
"I had no difficulty with Major Devinsky. As I anticipated he was nosort of a match for me at that business. I'm not bragging, but I'vebeen trained in a totally different school, and--well, the beggar neverhad a chance."
She smiled then, and her eyes danced in gladness, but as suddenly grewgrave again. Wonderfully tell-tale eyes they were!
"What about--I mean--is he hurt?"
"No, not much. Nothing serious. His quarrel wasn't with me, you see,so I couldn't kill him or wound him seriously. But you'll hearprobably from others what happened."
"I want to hear from you, please. You promised the news at first handremember."
"Well, I played rather a melodrama, I fear. I managed to snick him ina number of places till he's pitted a good deal. I gave him a lessonfor having treated you in that way and also for his insolence to me.Besides I wished to make a bit of an impression on the other men there.He won't trouble us again, I fancy."
"He's dangerous, Alexis: mind that. Very dangerous. But oh, I'm soglad it's all over and you're safe and sound--And here's your favouritedish--though you don't know what it is."
"I don't care what it is. I'll take whatever you give me on trust."At that she glanced at me and coloured, and hung her head.
She was very pretty indeed when the colour glowed in her cheeks, and asa rather long silence followed I had plenty of time to observe her.She made a most captivating little hostess, too; and I began to feelthat if I had had a sister of my own like her, I should have beenremarkably fond of her, and perhaps--who can tell?--a very differentman myself.
"By the way, there's one thing you must be careful to say," I said,breaking a long pause that was getting embarrassing. "You willprobably be asked whether you knew that I was an expert with the swordand pistol and was purposely concealing my skill from the men here inMoscow. That's what I've said, and it may be as well that you shouldseem to have known it. A brother and sister should have no secretsfrom each other, you know."
She shook her head at me and, with a smile and in a tone of mockreproach, said:
"You haven't always thought that, Alexis."
"It's never too late to mend," returned I. "And I'll promise for thefuture, if you like--so long as the relationship lasts, that is."
To that she made no answer, and when she spoke again she had changedthe subject.
We chatted very pleasantly during breakfast, and I asked her presentlyabout the dance at the Zemliczka Palace. She was going to it, shesaid, and told me that I had also accepted.
"Can a brother and sister dance together, Olga," I asked.
"I don't know," she replied, playing with the point as though it weresome grave matter of diplomacy. "I have never had to consider thequestion practically because you have never asked me, Alexis. But Ithink they might sit out together," and with the laugh that accompaniedthat sentence ringing in my ears, like the refrain of a sweet song, weparted to meet again at the ball.