The Amateur Gentleman

"Peterby!" said Barnabas.

"Sir?" said Peterby, who had been standing rigid beside the door.

"Take my stick," said Barnabas, holding it out towards him, but

keeping his gaze upon Mr. Chichester's narrowed eyes; "it's heavy

you'll find, and should this person presume to interfere, knock him

down with it."

"Yes, sir," said Peterby, and took the stick accordingly.

"But--oh, Gad!" exclaimed Dalton, "I tell you this can't go on!"

"Indeed, I hope not," said Barnabas; "but it is for Mr. Chichester

to decide. I am ready for the count when he is."

But Mr. Chichester sat utterly still, his chin on his breast,

staring at Barnabas under his brows, one hand tight clenched about

the stock of his weapon on the table before him, the other hanging

limply at his side. So for an interval they remained thus, staring

into each other's eyes, in a stillness so profound that it seemed

all four men had ceased breathing. Then Mr. Chichester sighed faintly,

dropped his eyes to the muzzle of the weapon so perilously near,

glanced back at the pale, set face and unwinking eyes of him who

held it, and sighed again.

"Dalton," said he, "pray open the door, and order the chaise," and

he laid the key upon the table.

"First," said Barnabas, "I will relieve you of that--encumbrance,"

and he pointed to the pistol yet gripped in Mr. Chichester's right

hand. Without a word Mr. Chichester rose, and leaving the weapon

upon the table, turned and walked to the window, while Mr. Dalton,

having unlocked the door, hurried away to the stable-yard, and was

now heard calling for the ostlers.

"Peterby," said Barnabas, "take this thing and throw it into the

horse-pond; yet, no, give it to the gentleman who just went out."

"Yes, sir," said Peterby, and, taking up the pistol, he went out,

closing the door behind him.

Mr. Chichester still lounged in the window, and hummed softly to

himself; but as for Barnabas, he sat rigid in his chair, staring

blankly at the opposite wall, his eyes wide, his lips tense, and

with a gleam of moisture amid the curls at his temples. So the

one lounged and hummed, and the other glared stonily before him

until came the grind of wheels and the stamping of hoofs. Then

Mr. Chichester took up his hat and cane, and, humming still,

crossed to the door, and lounged out into the yard.

Came a jingle of harness, a sound of voices, the slam of a door, and

the chaise rolled away down the lane, farther and farther, until the

rumble of its wheels died away in the distance. Then Barnabas

laughed--a sudden shrill laugh--and clenched his fists, and strove

against the laughter, and choked, and so sank forward with his face

upon his arms as one that is very weary. Now, presently, as he sat

thus, it seemed to him that one spoke a long way off, whereupon, in

a little, he raised his head, and beheld Clemency.