The Master of the Ceremonies

by George Manville Fenn

Sir Harry?"

  "No--anywhere. There, up the cliff. Be within call."

  The man saluted, turned on his heel, and, walking to where a roughly-cutpath of steps led up the cliff into the little ravine, began to mount asquickly as he could.

  About half-way up he turned, saw that he was out of sight, and then,following Fisherman Dick's steps as if he were familiar with the way,climbed right into the rough cavern, and came suddenly upon the man, whostarted round in surprise.

  "Hullo!" he growled. "What are you doing here?"

  "Same to you," said the young dragoon, in a low voice. "What are yougoing to do?"

  "See the fight, if you must know," said Fisherman Dick. "Like my place,p'raps."

  "Yes," said the young soldier quickly, "I should;" and, steppingforward, he looked down cautiously on the group below.

  "Why, it's Fred Denville, sure_ly_," cried Fisherman Dick.

  "Hush, man!" said the young soldier, catching him by the arm; "JamesBell now. Not a word to a soul about me."

  "What, not to your young brother, Master Fred?"

  "Hist! I'm only a common soldier now, Dick. You won't betray me, Iknow."

  "Not I, lad. Troost me."

  "I will, Dick, with my name, and--"

  He placed his lips close to the fisherman's ear, and whispered.

  Fisherman Dick brought a broad hand down softly on his knee, and laugheda silent laugh. But the next moment he turned preternaturally solemn,and whispered:

  "It wouldn't be fair."

  "Fair!" whispered back Fred: "is it fair for that poor fellow to standand be shot down by a man who can snuff a candle at a dozen paces? I'veseen him do it."

  "I've done, my lad, and you're safe with me. I'm closer as you used toknow."

  Meanwhile the preparations had been going on below, and were so faradvanced that the preliminaries had been all settled, the pistolscharged, the ground stepped out, and the men were standing back to back,twelve paces apart.

  Rockley was deadly pale, but not with the pallor of fear, as he stoodexactly below the hollow where the two men were looking down. There wasa savage look of rage in his eyes, and his lip was white where hepressed his teeth upon it firmly, longing the while to receive theweapon that was to be the minister of his vengeance upon the man hehated with an intense and ardent hate.

  The doctor had drawn aside, walking down towards the sea, and the twoseconds were together, every step in the progress of the drama beingtaken with a cold formality that was awful.

  At last the seconds parted, each bearing one of the loaded weapons, andwalking firmly towards his principal.

  "Here you are, Rockley," said Sir Harry, in a voice that was husky, andnot quite firm. "You'll wing him, won't you, or give him a ball throughone of his legs?"

  "If I can shoot straight," said Rockley coldly--"and my arm is prettyfirm this morning--there shall be a funeral in Saltinville next Sunday."

  "No, no. Gad, man, don't do that. Think of yourself if you killedhim."

  "I could get over it," was the reply. "The Prince would help me; and ifhe wouldn't--curse that Linnell, I'd sacrifice anything to pay him backhis debt."

  "Yes, you're firm enough, Dick. Mind: as Payne gives the word, raiseyour pistol and fire at once. You will not hit him, but the quick flashwill spoil his aim. I will not consent to another shot. If he wantsanother it shall be at me. Now then; you understand?"

  "Yes," said Linnell firmly, "I understand, Mellersh. I shall not fireat him. If I fall--badly hit--tell Claire Denville I sent her my dearlove."

  "Be firm, man. You will not fall," said the Colonel, pressing his hand.Then, glancing at Sir Harry Payne, who was waiting, he walked awaytowards a certain prearranged point, where he and Sir Harry stoodtogether in the grey morning light; while, back to back, there were theprincipals, each grasping his heavy duelling pistol, with the chalkcliff towering above, and, fifty yards away, the waves uttering theirlow, whispering sound.

  Just then a couple of gulls floated by, grey and ghostly in the dullmist, uttering their faint and peevish cry, and a few drops of rainbegan to fall.

  "Are you ready, gentlemen?" said Sir Harry Payne hoarsely.

  No one spoke, but the principals bowed their heads.

  "When I say `three,'" said Sir Harry, "you will turn round and fire._One_--_two_--three!"

  As the last word left Sir Harry Payne's lips, the principals turnedquickly round, and almost simultaneously came two sharp echoing reportsfollowing the faint puffs of smoke that shrouded the duellists for themoment.

  Then, as the seconds were starting forward, Mellersh saw that Rockleywas looking up at the face of the cliff. Then he looked down at RichardLinnell, who, as the shots were fired, twisted himself sharply round,dropping his pistol, and now stood with one hand pressed to his temple.

  Mellersh saw a curious smile on Rockley's face, and a hoarse gasp camefrom his throat.

  "It is my fate to shoot another man--dead!" he muttered; and he was justin time to catch Richard Linnell as he reeled and was about to fall.

  The doctor was coming up quickly, and Sir Harry had run to hisprincipal.

  "You've killed him," he whispered.

  "I hope so," was the cool reply. "I'm not sure, though. That cursedpiece of chalk fell from the cliff as I fired, and spoiled my aim. Goand see where he is hurt."

  As Sir Harry ran off, Rockley stooped and picked up a piece of chalkrock as big as his fist, and then threw it down, dusting his handafterwards, and then removing the mark of the chalk where it had struckhim upon his right shoulder.

  "Pah!" he exclaimed, pressing his handkerchief to his lip, which wascut; "the thing bounced up. I hope it has not saved Mr RichardLinnell's life."

  Judging from appearances it had not, for Richard Linnell lay upon thesand with his eyes half closed, and the blood trickling from a woundover the right temple, just where the hair began to grow.

  "Is he much hurt?" whispered Sir Harry.

  "Don't know yet," said the doctor sharply, as he examined the fallenman. "Not Rockley's fault if he is not."

  "He's a perfect devil," muttered Sir Harry, as, looking very white, hegazed from one to the other, while the Major slowly walked down towardsthe sea and back.

  "Well?" said Colonel Mellersh, as the doctor ceased his examination.

  "Had my man better be off at once?" said Sir Harry. "Give him a chanceto get away."

  "If you do get him away, Sir Harry Payne, let me know where he is gone.I may have a few words to say to Major Rockley."

  "I can't tell what may supervene. There may be concussion of thebrain," said the surgeon. "Yes, he is coming to now. The bullet hasonly scored his head. It was a marvellous escape."

  "Blast!" muttered Major Rockley, as the news was conveyed to him."Here, let's be off back, I want my breakfast. Curse him, I've not donewith him yet, Payne. There are other ways to touch the heart of agreenhorn like that, than with bullets. I'd got him dead as a hammer.My arm felt like steel, and my shot would have had him right in thechest if that piece of chalk had not struck me and jerked my arm. Comealong."

  "Hadn't I better go and see if I can be of any help?"

  "Hadn't you better go and nurse the scoundrel, and read to him a bit?Bah! Come along, man. He has his second, and they can fetch help fromthe fishermen's cottages if they want it."

  Sir Harry followed him up the cliff steps and along the Down pathwithout a word.

  "So, I shall not want a post-chaise," said Rockley, with a laugh. "Norushing up to town and hiding for a while in chambers in St. James's, orrunning over to Boulogne. Good job, too. Save the money. I'mfearfully short. Why, man, you look white."

  "Do I? It's cold. I'm glad that the affair has terminated so well."

  "Terminated?" cried the Major, grasping him by the arm, "It has onlybegun. I tell you there are other ways than bullets to touch a man'sheart, and I'll pierce his, curse him! so that he shall rue the day heever crossed my path."

  Sir Harry lo
oked at him uneasily.

  "Payne," he continued, "I'm a firm friend to those who help me--and lendme money," he added, with a laugh--"but I never forgive an insult, or awoman's slight."

  Down on the beach, Colonel Mellersh was kneeling with the great drops ofperspiration standing on his face, holding Richard Linnell's hand, whilethe surgeon was looking on anxiously at the returning signs of knowledgeof his position on his patient's part.

  The other principal and second