'
'Why, you seem rather excited, old fellow; what is wrong? I thought
that the fair Aster had a monopoly of your company for this evening.'
'Yes; it had been so arranged. But I found that cad, Ham, there, and
he saw fit to insult me. You can now guess, I suppose, the nature of
my mission.'
'Hem; things are really serious then. Do you want me to help you
through with the affair?'
'If you will, old fellow. My wish is that you wait upon this person
in the morning, that he may name a friend with whom you can arrange
the meeting. Let it not be later than the following morning. He has,
of course, his choice of sword or pistol.'
'I doubt if the man will fight.'
'Then nothing will remain for me but the loathsome job of giving him
a horse-whipping. And I presume that you will not be silent as to his
cowardice.'
Early on the following morning Frank Harland, for such was the name
of Roland's friend, rode away towards Oatland's, the residence of the
coarse-haired Mr. Ham. He alighted at the gate, and throwing his
bridle rein over a post entered the grounds. Mr. Ham was at the
moment crossing the field towards his residence; but when he
perceived the early visitor he changed his course and proceeded to
meet the comer.
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