'Very well. I understand. But you might have spared yourself this unpleasant discovery if you had not returned like a thief in the night. It seems you must have been spying on us to. arrive here at this hour and by way of the ladder.'
'I've done nothing of the kind,' de Cordoba retorted harshly. 'And it is you who are the thief. My ship docked at Bilboa yesterday evening. I thought that by hiring an automobile I could easily get home by midnight. But the cursed thing broke down and it was six hours before I reached a town where I could hire another. When I did get here, not wishing to wake the whole household I went round to the back of the villa to see if I could find a way to get in. I found one. Yes, I found a ladder leading up to my wife's bedroom. And what then? What a welcome home! I found a man whom I regarded with affection and respect in my wife's bed.'
'I sympathize with you in the shock you sustained,' replied the Duke calmly. 'What more can I say? That which is done is done. In such a situation an apology would only sound insincere.'
'Apology be damned!' the Conde exploded. 'By God, you're going to give me satisfaction, and that before you are much older.'
De Richleau sighed. 'Since you demand it, I am entirely at your service.'
'Demand it! Of course. What else would you expect? Now collect your clothes and get out of here. You can dress in the bathroom.'
'No,' the Duke shook his head, and his jaw became aggressive. 'That I will not do. I refuse to be humiliated by getting naked out of bed in front of you. And unless you wish to lower yourself by entering on an unseemly brawl you cannot make me. It is you who will leave this room while I dress at my leisure.'
For a moment de Cordoba glowered at him, then he sneered, 'One would hardly expect to find such delicacy in a man base enough to seduce the wife of a friend. But let it be as you say.
You'll find me down in the hall. Be quick about it. I'll stand for no delay in making our arrangements.' Turning, he marched from the room, slamming the door behind him.
As his footsteps faded away down the corridor, Gulia and de Richleau took their eyes from the door and looked at one another. 'Well,' he asked coldly. 'What have you to say?'
Two great tears had welled up into her eyes and were running down her magnolia-petal cheeks. Sadly she shook her head. 'Oh Armand, my dear love, I never dreamed that things would end for us like this.'
'Nor I; which is less surprising since I believed him dead,' de Richleau replied bitterly. 'But you; you lied to me. You made up that story about his having been mauled by a puma, and that Ruiz had asked you to keep his death secret because if it became known there would be a run on the bank. It's obvious now that you knew him to be alive all the time, but did not expect him back until the end of October.'
'Yes,' she murmured. 'It's true. But I beg you not to think too badly of me because of that. We have had such a wonderful time together. Think of the happiness I have given you. And your conscience, at least, is clear.'
'My conscience!' he burst out. 'Yes, but not my reputation in your husband's eyes. Do you not realize that whatever may happen now he will regard me with contempt - as a man who has sullied his honour?'
'Honour! Oh Armand, why must you men make so much of that? Surely love counts for more. You love me. I know you do.' Suddenly raising her arms she threw them round his neck.
'Love you!' Breaking her hold he thrust her from him. 'After what you have done, how can I do anything else than despise you.'
As she collapsed sobbing on her pillow, he angrily kicked the bedclothes aside, jumped out of bed and started to dress.
By the time he was in his shirt and trousers she was sitting up again, watching him with tear-dimmed eyes. In a hoarse voice she spoke. 'Armand. This duel that he insists on fighting. It is I who have brought it on you. Oh, I pray to God that you will not be hurt. If you were killed I ... I'd never get over it. I . . . I. .
He felt calmer now, and quickly reassured her. 'You've little need to let that worry you. I am used to arms, whereas he, poor devil, is only used to handling butterfly nets. There's one chance in a hundred that he might pip me at the regulation twenty paces, but no more.'
Getting out of bed she stood in front of him, naked and as beautiful as Venus arisen from the foam. But her arms hung slack by her sides and her head was bowed. Choking back a sob she said:
'I don't think I am a wanton. I have refused the pleading of scores of handsome men. That I am a wicked woman to have behaved so despicably towards you I confess. But love drove me to it, Armand. From the very first moment I saw you 1 knew you were the only man that I could ever love profoundly. I wanted you desperately - desperately. I did everything I could to get you. I even lied about Jos6.*He was very far from being a satisfactory husband, but I've no reason at all to believe that he really kept a mistress in Madrid. Yet you were too honourable to give way to my tempting. It was then the idea came to me that if I could only free you from your scruples I'd get my heart's desire. My plan succeeded. But it was born neither out of greed nor ordinary wantonness. If I died tonight I'd die happy in the knowledge that for just a few weeks in my life I had had you for my lover. And you returned my love, Armand. You know you did. Can you not possibly forgive me?'
His heart melted within him. He suddenly felt that during the past quarter of an hour he had behaved towards her like a prig and a brute. Softly he said:
T understand. Yes, I understand. And someone once said, "to understand all is to forgive all", didn't they. Anyway, I take back everything I said just now, and ask your forgiveness for it. Oh, my darling, what can I say to comfort you? It was I who, by putting honour before love, drove you to do as you did. That you should have had the strength and courage to carry through your purpose shows the depth of your feeling for me, and I humbly thank the gods that I should have been blessed with a love so great as yours.'
She lifted her face to his and once more her eyes were shining. Gently, he took her in his arms. They kissed, but with all passion drained from them, as two beings who for a little time had dwelt in heaven together, and, whether or not they met again in this life, would forever remain long-time friends.
Two minutes later he had put on his coat and left her. Down in the hall he found de Cordoba agitatedly pacing up and down. Without a word the Conde led the way into the small library. De Richleau followed him in. From the drawer of a bureau the Conde took an oblong mahogany box. Placing it on the centre table, he opened it, disclosing a pair of silver-mounted duelling pistols and compartments that contained cleaning materials and shot.
'These will serve our purpose,' he said tonelessly. 'Be good enough to take your choice, and put a few bullets in your pocket.'
'Surely,' protested the Duke in astonishment, 'you cannot be suggesting that we should fight here and now.'
'No, down in the private bay. One could hardly find a better place to fight a duel than on its flat, firm sands, and it will take us only a few minutes to walk down there.'
'But . . . But one cannot fight a duel without seconds, and a doctor within call.'
'I see nothing against doing so.'
'There is a great deal,' replied de Richleau promptly. 'However intense your resentment against me, Conde, I beg you to exercise a little patience. Put away these weapons for the time being. Although as the challenged party I have the right of choice I am willing to accept them. But allow me to return to my hotel. Send two of your friends to me there and I will ask two friends of mine to make proper arrangements with them. Then I will meet you at any time or place they may decide.'
De Cordoba shook his head. 'No. We will go down to the shore and settle this matter without delay.'