HARRY
If you're insulted, and not satisfied, remember there's two of us, Best.
On which, the captain falls to washing his nose in water, and answering never a word.
RODERICK
(in dignified tone)
Mr. Best may also have satisfaction any time he pleases, by calling on Roderick James, Esquire, of Jamesville.
His uncle bursts out laughing, and in this laugh, Captain Grogan joins.
RODERICK
Captain Grogan, I beg you to understand that, for my cousin Harry, who has been my best friend through life, I could put up with rough treatment from him; yet, even that sort of treatment I will bear from him no longer; and any other person who ventures on the like will not like the cost. Mr. Best knows that fact very well; and, if he's man, he'll know where to find me.
UNCLE
It is getting late, and your mother will be anxious about you. One of you had better go home with him.
(turning to his sons)
Or the lad may be playing more pranks.
HARRY
Both of us ride home with Best here.
CAPTAIN BEST
I'm not afraid of highwaymen. My man is armed, and so am I.
HARRY
You know the use of arms very well, Best, and no one can doubt your courage; but Michael and I will see you home for all that.
UNCLE
Why, you'll not be home till morning, boys. Kilwangan's a good ten miles from here.
HARRY
We'll sleep in Best's quarters. We're going to stop a week there. And, in another week, my boy.
And here, Harry whispers something in the Captain's ear.
CAPTAIN GROGAN
I'll go home with the boy.
Grogan walks with Roderick.
CAPTAIN GROGAN
A pretty day's work of it you have made, Master Roderick. Knowing your uncle to be distressed for money, and try and break off a match which will bring fifteen hundred a-year into the family? Best has promised to pay off the four thousand pounds which is bothering your uncle so. He takes a girl without a penny -- a girl that has been flinging herself at the head of every man in these parts these ten years past, and missing them all, and a boy who ought to be attached to your uncle as to your father.
RODERICK
And so I am.
CAPTAIN GROGAN
And this is the return you make for his kindness! Didn't he harbor you in his house when your father died, and hasn't he given you and your mother, rent-free, your fine house of Jamesville yonder?
RODERICK
Mark this, come what will of it, I swear I will fight the man who pretends to the hand of Dorothy Dugan. I'll follow him if it's into the church, and meet him there. I'll have his blood, or he shall have mine. Will you take my message to him, and arrange the meeting?
CAPTAIN GROGAN
Well, if it must be, it must. For a young fellow, you are the most bloodthirsty I ever saw. No officer, bearing His Majesty's commission, can receive a glass of wine on his nose, without resenting it -- fight you must, and Best is a huge, strong fellow.
RODERICK
He'll give the better mark. I am not afraid of him.
CAPTAIN GROGAN
In faith, I believe you are not; for a lad I never saw more game in my life. Give me a kiss, my dear boy. You're after my own soul. As long as Jack Grogan lives, you shall never want a friend or a second. They embrace.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Poor fellow! He was shot six months afterwards, at Minden, and I lost thereby a kind friend. But we don't know what is in store for us, and that's a blessing.
Mother greeting Roderick and Captain Grogan.
RODERICK (V.O.)
In spite of my precautions to secrecy, I half-suspected that my mother knew all from the manner in which she embraced me on my arrival, and received our guest, Captain Grogan.
His mother looks a little anxious and flushed and, every now and then, gazes very hard into the Captain's face.
RODERICK (V.O.)
But she would not say a word about the quarrel, for she had a noble spirit, and would as lief have seen any one of her kindred hanged as shirking from the field of honor.
Roderick waking up.
RODERICK (V.O.)
I never slept sounder in my life, though I woke a little earlier than usual, and you may be sure my first thought was of the event of the day, for which I was fully prepared.
Roderick at table with paper and ink.
RODERICK (V.O.)
And now I sat down and wrote a couple of letters; they might be the last, thought I, that I should ever write in my life.
See him write: "Dearest Mother."
RODERICK (V.O.)
Then I went down to breakfast, where my mother was waiting for me, you may be sure. We did not say a single word about what was taking place.
Roderick eats his breakfast with a good appetite; but in helping himself to salt, spills it, on which his mother starts up with a scream.
MOTHER
Thank God, it's fallen towards me! And then, her heart being too full, she leaves the room.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Ah! They have their faults, those mothers; but are there any other women like them?
There is an elegant, silver-mounted sword that hangs on the mantelpiece under the picture of Roderick's late father.
A pair of pistols hang on each side of the picture.
Roderick takes down the sword and pistols, which are bright and well-oiled, and collects flints, balls and gunpowder.
Captain Grogan and Orderly arrive.
RODERICK
Have you taken my message to him?
CAPTAIN GROGAN
The meeting is arranged. Captain Best is waiting for you now.
RODERICK
My mare is saddled and ready; who's the captain's second?
CAPTAIN GROGAN
Your cousins go out with him. Roderick and Grogan, and the Orderly ride off.
RODERICK (V.O.)
I didn't take leave of Mrs. James. The curtains of her bedroom-windows were down, and they didn't move as we mounted and trotted off.
They ride their horses at a leisurely pace.
CAPTAIN GROGAN
That's a very handsome sword you have there.
RODERICK
It was with this sword that my late father, Harry James, God rest his soul, met Sir Huddelstone Fuddelstone, the Hampshire baronet, and was fatally run through the neck. He was quite in the wrong, having insulted Lady Fuddelstone, when in liquor, at the Brentford Assembly. But, like a gentleman, he scorned to apologize.
CAPTAIN GROGAN
And now you risk the same fate. If you are killed, your mother is all alone in the world.
RODERICK