"Yes, by all means. Tell my Lord to come in," said he; and Norwood entered.

"You remember an old pledge you once made me," said the Viscount, smiling. "I have come to claim it."

"_Diantre!_ the case must be pressing that would not wait till daylight."

"So it is; and so you will agree with me in thinking it when I tell you all," said Norwood. "The first point is, may I reckon upon you?"

"Of course; my word is sacred."

"Secondly, have you pistols that you can depend upon? Mine have been stopped at Milan by the police."

"They are Jacquard's best," said the Frenchman; "and in _your_ hand ought not to disgrace their maker."

"Dress, then, and come along with me. This affair must be disposed of quickly."

"I'm at your orders," said the Frenchman, gayly. "I suppose you will be kind enough to tell me something more as we go along."

Norwood nodded an a.s.sent, and sat down before the fire and crossed his arms on his breast.

"Was it a quarrel at play?" asked the Frenchman, after an interval of silence.

"No!" was the abrupt reply.

"All the better. It is the only affair of this kind I cannot endure. Is there a woman in it?"

"Yes."

"Ah! I perceive," said the other, with a laugh. "A married woman?"

"Yes."

"And who is this happy husband, this time?" asked he, flippantly.

"I am," replied Norwood, in a low and solemn voice.

"_You! you!_ I never thought--never suspected _you_ of being married, Norwood. Pray be a little more explicit. Let me hear the whole story."

"Later on, not now. I want to think of something else at this moment Are your pistols fine in the trigger?"

"Excessively so; a fly would almost suffice to move them. Is he English?"

"No."

"Not a countryman of my own, I hope?"

"No. It is Midchekoff, the Russian."

"_Diantre!_ what a mark to shoot at! But they tell me that he never does go out,--that he refuses this kind of thing."

"He shall not do so this time," said Norwood, with a vehement energy of manner.

"Well, I 'm ready now; but I must say that I should like to hear something of what we are about."

"There will be ample time for all as we go along. We shall drive to the villa. It is necessary to obtain an interview with himself. This done, I will give the provocation, showing that you are ready and in waiting; there can be no delay."

"But he will need a friend?"

"He must take one of his secretaries,----his valet if he prefer it I 'll give no time for evasive negotiation."

"I cannot be a party to an affair like this, Norwood. Whatever the wrong you seek to avenge, this is not the mode to do it."

"Say so at once, then," said Norwood, rising. "Tell me that you gave a rash promise, and are sorry for it Better the refusal now than when it be too late to retract."

"You mistake me; I have no wish to unsay one single word I ever spoke to you. I only ask for such an explanation as I have a right to demand."

"You shall know everything; pray spare me telling it twice over. There is no use in opening one's wound till he comes to the surgeon. Enough now, that I tell you this man owes me a full and fair reparation for a great wrong; I am equally determined on exacting it. If this does not satisfy you, step into the carriage and you shall hear the whole story.

I can tell it, perhaps, when we are rattling along over the stones in the dark." And so saying, he sat down and leaned his head on the table, as though he would not be disturbed. The Frenchman went on with his dressing, rapidly; and at last, p.r.o.nouncing himself ready, they descended the stairs together in silence, and entered the carriage.

As they drove on, Norwood never spoke; and his companion, respecting perhaps the occasion of his silence, did not utter a word. At last they arrived at the summit of the hill, and looked down upon the city, over which the gray tints of coming day were breaking. The great Duomo and the Palazzo Vecchio lay in ma.s.sive shadow, and it was only at intervals along the Arno that a flickering gleam of cold light fell. The scene, in all its calm and stillness, was grand and solemn.

"How unlike the Florence of sun and bright sky, how unlike the brilliant city of dissipation and pleasure!" said Norwood; "and so it is with individuals: we are just what light and shadow make us! Now listen to me." He then related the whole story of his first meeting with Lola, down to the moment of D'Esmonde's revelation. "I know well," said he, "there may be a dozen ways to look on the affair besides that which I have chosen. I might dispute the marriage; I might disavow the whole proceeding; I might, naturally enough, leave such a woman to her fate,--she never could be anything to _me_; but I cannot relinquish the opportunity of a reckoning with this Russian. The insolence of his wealth gives all the venom to this outrage, and I 'll shoot him! All the splendor of his riches can avail him but little now. And, except some more gold upon his coffin, and a richer pall to cover it, he has no advantage over me, ruined and beggared as I am. As to my scores with the world at large, I am about quits. _They_ cheated _me_ when I was a young, unsuspecting boy, trusting and believing every one. _I_ repaid _them_, as my own time came. Men understand this thoroughly, but women never do. The moment you cease to be _their_ dupe, they hate you. As to my debts, they gave me little trouble when living, they 're not likely to disturb my rest in the churchyard; and as for friends, there is not one alive to whom I could send a last word of affection; and yet--you'll scarcely believe it--with all this I 'd like to live; although if you ask me why, I couldn't tell it Perhaps it is this," cried he, after a pause; "the yelping pack that cried me down in my absence will do so now without fear or restraint The stories of me that once were whispered will now be told aloud. Slander and calumny can go abroad without a dread of consequences. But even that is a poor thing to live for!"

The Frenchman's philosophy had taught him but few sympathies with such gloomy ideas, and he tried in every way to rally his friend; but Norwood's mind was full of very different sorrows from those he had dwelt upon. It was the canker of a disappointed, abortive life was eating into his heart A fair fortune squandered, a n.o.ble name tarnished, a high position sacrificed, and now an ignominious quarrel to close his career,--these were the reflections which, far more embittering than all his words, now tortured and agonized him.

"Come," said he, suddenly, "we had better move forward. It is getting nigh daybreak, and our Prince will soon be retiring to his room."

They now drove rapidly on for some time, and at last reached the gate, where the porter, at once recognizing Mor-lache's carriage and livery, admitted them without a word.

"You 'll have to wait for me here, Count," said Norwood, when they stopped at the door. "I 'll contrive not to keep you long; but this part of the matter I must do alone." The bell had scarcely done ringing when the door was opened. "The Prince is still at table?" said Norwood, half in a.s.sertion, half in inquiry; and then, with a gesture to the servant to show the way, he overawed all scruples about admitting him. "Is he alone?" said the Viscount, as they went along.

"No, sir. The Countess is with him."

"Say that a person on most pressing business is here, and must speak with him at once."

"The Prince always requires the name, sir. I dare not address him without it."

"Say that I am come from Morlache's,----that I have something to deliver into his own hands."

Norwood placed the casket on the table as he spoke. The servant retired, and speedily returned, requesting Norwood to follow him. As the door was flung open, Norwood heard voices; he stopped and hesitated. Either an impulse of pa.s.sion or some change of purpose worked within him; for, as he stood, he grasped the edge of the door, and swayed to and fro for some seconds.

"Let him come out,--let him come here," cried he, in a loud voice.

A low murmur of persons speaking was heard within, and suddenly the rustling sound of a female dress was followed by the bang of a door; and then Norwood entered, and, closing the door, locked it behind him.

The grating sound of the key made the Russian turn his head suddenly around, and his eyes met Norwood's.

"What! my Lord Norwood!" cried he, in amazement. "They never told me--"