"Eh—purpose?" repeated Absalom still gazing towards the doorway until, feeling a touch, he turned to find Adam leaning forward to look on him at last.
"Ay," he nodded, "some better purpose than tormenting; one hath troubles enough and to spare."
"Tormenting, say you?"
"Indeed, with your jibes and fleers and threats of—kissing!"
Now reading the fierce scorn in the speaker's small, pale face, Absalom flushed hotly, essayed a laugh, scowled and became sullen.
"I but jested with ... with a little fool should not be here."
"No, an innocent maid that trusted to your honour, Captain Troy, and vainly it seems. I cry you shame and—-" Up leapt Absalom red with hot fury, and up rose Adam, pallid with cold rage.
"How then," cried Absalom, clenching powerful hands, "will ye dare impeach my honour so lightly—and for this—this runaway baggage, this murderous shrew? Innocent, d'ye say? A cut-throat gallows-bird, says I ... and now threatens to kill me ... and by God she would too."
"Sir," said Adam, hissing between his teeth, "it is to be hoped so!"
"How? What? My life ... for mere kiss?"
"On shipboard, yes. As for ... 'gallows-bird' ... I protest you lie most foully." Absalom's comely face grew ghastly pale, his shapely lips quivered and yet were silent; therefore Adam continued:
"You, being once a gentleman, should know better than affront so basely one so helpless, and this I will permit by no means."
"Permit?" cried Absalom, with tone and gesture so wild and threatening that Adam braced himself for the expected blow. "Now curse your prating insolence ... to flout and give me the lie ... and all for this termagent, this——"
"Be silent!" cried Adam. "Stint and curb your lewd tongue! I've named you liar,—go fetch your sword——"
"Hey?" sneered Absalom. "You'll play off your damned rapier tricks on me now, will ye?"
"Every one—if needed!" answered Adam, reaching down his father's sword. "Now begone! You shall find me on the lower deck, it should be quieter there." But instead of going, Absalom folded his long arms, he smiled, he nodded.
"So ho!" quoth he, in soft, jeering tone. "'Tis as I guessed ... this shrewish claw-cat, this blood-thirsty she-devil ... you love her, eh, my poor lad? Ay, you love her, or damme!"
And now it was Adam who stood mute with a raging fury beyond words, an anger that seemed to rob him of his poor strength, so that he sank upon the locker behind him and, feeling himself so weak and futile, covered his face in clutching hands to hide the burning tears that shamed him. Crouched thus, he heard Absalom's long legs go striding away ... and presently come striding back; heard Absalom curse bitterly and then say, in shaken tones:
"Gallows-bird ... dammit ... I retract, I take it back!" Then away he went again only to return as soon; and Adam, still crouched upon the locker, heard him curse again and say, as though against his wilclass="underline"
"Shrewish claw-cat and she-devil ... these also ... I retract.... And now, when you're ready, come to me in the coach and there I'll essay a sword trick or so on that little carcase o' thine!" Then away he strode for the second time.
And after some while, Adam rose and with sheathed sword beneath his arm, stepped forth of his cabin and came face to face with Antonia, and he was quick to see she had been weeping.
"Adam, don't go," she pleaded, "for sake of wretched me ... don't fight him! Oh, I know, I've been listening.... I heard every word."
"Why then you know that fight I must, so, let me pass."
"No!" she gasped, wringing her clasped hands. "He retracted all he said ... so don't ... Oh, Adam, for dear God's sake don't fight, I ... I cannot abide it."
"Antonia," he murmured, "are you so fearful for me?"
"No, ah no, for him—for him! He is so big and reckless and you are so ... so small and deadly, so cold and terribly sure!"
"Sure?" repeated Adam, beginning to tremble now even as she. "Yes, I am sure, but—only of myself. Are you ... is he ... his safety so ... so very dear to you, indeed?"
"'Tis not ... this ..." she answered, her clear gaze havering, "only I would not have you shed his blood for sake of me, Adam."
"Are you so certain I can?"
"Yes,—yes I am! For Death goes beside you, Adam, to guide your hand ... looks out from your eyes. And he ... Oh, all his size and strength shall nowise avail him, I know ... I know."
"Howbeit," sighed Adam, "comfort you now for ... he shall come to no harm."
"You promise me this, Adam?"
"Yes," he answered, sighing deeper than before.
Now as he went and slowly like one in troubled muse, there met him Sir Benjamin whom he welcomed with one of his rare smiles, saying:
"Sir, it seems long since you stood my friend 'gainst Captain Sharp and on this very spot."
"Ay, time fleets, friend Adam, time fleets, and whiles you busy yourself about the ship I shut myself up with Lord Perrow, my brother, George D'Arcy and the Devil, losing my all at cards, sir, the bones—and by each am cursed, for my luck is out, sir. But now, friend Adam, I am hoping to serve you again in your affair with Troy."
"So he told you o' this?"
"In confidence, Adam, and that I might stand thy friend i' the matter."
"Is he so wishful to fight me?"
"Indeed! Though he lays the onus on you, bidding me say he waits your retraction of certain word or your person to make it good."
"He shall have my person."
"Ha, well said!" exclaimed Sir Benjamin, bouncing with jubilant motion of his legs. "Od's my life, but I love thee, Adam, let's to 't."
So came they into that large cabin with its square windows opening upon railed gallery, this the greatest room in all the ship and called round-house or coach, where they found Absalom at table scowling blackly into the untasted wine before him. At their entrance he rose, inviting them to drink with a gesture.
"Anon, sir, anon!" answered Sir Benjamin, bowing with extreme formality. "Afterwards—perhaps." Adam merely shook his head.
"Ha, gentlemen," quoth Sir Benjamin, with a flourish, "I here venture to suggest the matter may be accommodated."
Absalom scowled and was dumb; Adam shook his head again, whereupon Sir Benjamin, his legs once more jubilant, nodded, saying:
"Then, sirs,—the sooner the better!"
Absalom caught up a silver bell from the table and rang it furiously till came Joel Bym hurrying and after him Captain Smy, more leisurely, who, looking on them sternly, groaned.
"This cometh o' breaking our rule!" quoth he, gloomily. "But if ye must to bloodshed, have at it and be done."
"Need we strip?" growled Absalom.
"'Tis more customary," answered Sir Benjamin. So off came their coats and doublets.
"Your shoes!" said Absalom, kicking off his own.
"Thank you," answered Adam. "I'll keep mine, I am a little taller so."
"Bym, my Toledo!" The weapon was brought, a fine silver-hilted rapier which Absalom slowly unsheathed, saying: "Bolt the doors, Bym!"
"Now, sir," said Sir Benjamin, baring Adam's rapier with a certain joyous officiousness, "I propose you play three veneys and let them suffice, blood or no. Is 't agreed?"
"Ay, ay!" nodded Absalom carelessly.
"As you will!" answered Adam.
"Then," said Sir Benjamin, drawing his own weapon, "after the third encounter I shall interpose. Are ye ready? On guard!"
The long, narrow blades flickered and rang together; and thus with steel grinding they fronted each other, Absalom frowning and grim, Adam's face pale and set. For a long moment they stood staring eye to eye, motionless and dumb.
"Fight!" snarled Absalom, at last.
"When you will," answered Adam, never moving. So, with stamp of shoeless foot and hissing between shut teeth, Absalom fell to sudden, swift action,—he feinted cunningly, shifted dexterously, making his glittering point a circling, darting menace until, spying an opening in Adam's guard, he flashed in a thrust and was met by a parry so unexpectedly strong that it jarred him from wrist to shoulder and, as he stepped back to recover, Adam's blade darted, ripping his shirt from elbow to throat; whereat Sir Benjamin bounced and whispered amazed oath, Smy opened grim lips that spoke not, and the hairy Joel Bym seized himself by the beard and murmured: "By cock!"