He stopped as suddenly. "Gentlemen, this is childish. Go, sir!"
to Don Caesar, pointing with a gaunt white finger into the darkened
hall. "I will follow you. Mr. Hathaway, as an older man, and one
who has seen a good deal of foolish altercation, I regret, sir,
deeply regret, to be a witness to this belligerent quality in a
law-maker and a public man; and I must deprecate, sir--deprecate,
your demand on that gentleman for what, in the folly of youth, you
are pleased to call personal satisfaction."
As he moved with dignity out of the room, Paul remained blankly
staring after him. Was it all a dream?--or was this Colonel
Pendleton the duelist? Had the old man gone crazy, or was he
merely acting to veil some wild purpose? His sudden arrival showed
that Yerba must have sent for him and told him of Don Caesar's
threats; would he be wild enough to attempt to strangle the man in
some remote room or in the darkness of the passage? He stepped
softly into the hall: he could still hear the double tread of the
two men: they had reached the staircase--they were DESCENDING! He
heard the drowsy accents of the night porter and the swinging of
the door--they were in the street!
Wherever they were going, or for what purpose, HE must be at the
station, as he had warned them he would be.
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