As I pushed into the card room, while it was well filled of folk, my first glance revealed nothing to justify4 Jim's fears. There was Noah, truly; and sitting with him that Kentucky Yankee, the anxious Amos Kendall. Isaac Hill, gray and thin, and limping with his club-foot, was also about. These were the General's friends; there was naught5 to anticipate of a misunderstanding with Noah from them.
And for all that, Jim was right; calm as showed the surface, there ran an undertow of conversation which flowed for storm. Jim, who lived long among fighting men on fighting ground, had attained6 perhaps some sharpened sense for the sign or sound of approaching strife7, and could foretell9 it while yet a mile away, Kendall was by Noah's side, and Hill had paused at his elbow; yet it was with neither of these he was engaged. Against the corner of a mantelpiece, and two paces from Noah, leaned a young man of dissolute look. His name, I learned, was Catron, and he came from Port Tobacco, a small hamlet in the southern toe of Maryland. Evidently, Catron was of an upper class in his country, as his dress, and fine hands, smallish and unmarred of toil10, would give a signal. He had been drinking, but seemed more vicious than drunk.
Catron was doing the talking, and with a manner of itself an insult seemed bent11 for altercation12.
“Don't cross the run of things,” warned Noah, in a whisper, as I marked my advent13 by dropping a hand upon his shoulder; “I am glad you are come; but don't interfere14. Affairs go famously.”
Willing to gain some insight of the trend of traffic, I paused behind Noah's chair.
“That I should cross words,” Catron was saying, “with a Jackson Jew does not tell in favor of my respectability. It is what one must look for, however, when the beggars of politics are promoted to the saddle.”
“Your epithet15 of 'Jackson Jew,'” responded Noah, quietly, “I take for myself, and am much flattered thereby16. And you are also to remember there are weapons other than words which one may cross with me whenever one's valor17 arouses to that pitch. Jew, yes! my ancestors were poets, lawgivers—they read the stars, and collected the wisdom and the learning of the world, when the slant-skulled fore-fathers of upstairs I might indicate went clothed of sheepskin and club, ate their meat raw, and saved their fire to pray to.”
All this flowed from Noah in tones modulate18 and sweet. I began to wonder at my fair-haired friend; not unskilled in colloquy19 of this sort, it beat upon me that Noah, himself, was wanting an encounter.
“If I were to own my way,” said Catron, paying no heed20 to Noah's intimation of a stone-age savagery22 as the state of his forebears. “If I might have my way, I'd exclude every shoe-lace Jew from the country.”
“Doubtless; if you were to have but your own way,” purred Noah. “And yet, observe the injustice23 you propose. The Jew is as much the American as you. My father fought for this country; I have fought for it; the Jews found and gave one-third of that money which won the Revolution. The Jews wasted their treasure and their blood like water for independence, while folk one wots of were filling the roles of Royalists and upholding the hands of the King.”
There now fell out a deal of talk to little purpose, I thought, and I was on the tip of telling Noah so, when someone from over my shoulder flung a remark.
“You are he,” said this man—his name was Witherspoon, and he a Clay Kentuckian—“you are he,” addressing Noah, “who had this country stricken from the muster24 of Christian25 nations. You caused the Bey of Tunis to make the decision.”
“I but caused the Bey to expound26 our constitution,” said Noah, looking carelessly back at Witherspoon.
While I was turning these last remarks in my mind, and gnawing27 the enigma28 they offered, Catron broke forth29 with a cataract30 of malediction31 upon the General, and Noah and any and all who stood the former's supporters. It was a flood of abuse that told strongly for the ruffian's muddy powers.
“And now this precious Jackson of yours,”—these were Catron's closing words—“this murderer! this thief of other men's wives! would insult the decency32 of our capitol with a courtesan in his cabinet.”
“Meaning whom?” asked Noah, half rising.
Noah's words had the fiber33 of triumph; he put his question as might he who had trapped that result which he went seeking from the start.
“Who?” retorted the other; “who, save that Peg34 O'Neal who was as common as the streets she walked.”
Noah fair spat36 out the words; it was as though they came freighted with the venom37 of the viper38.
Catron growled39 an oath and leaped towards Noah. He was met flush in the face with a glass of whiskey which Noah in most casual fashion had just poured. I had foreseen Noah's purpose; I'd heard him say he drank no spirits.
For the moment Catron was stopped, the bite and anguish42 of the alcohol in his eyes making him as a blind man. As Noah threw the liquor, I seized him by the wrist; so far it had been gentleman's work; I did not want him to spoil his position by throwing the glass.
“Don't grip so hard,” warned Noah, making not the least of struggle; “don't grip so hard. I shall anon need this hand for what is in store; that grasp like a hand-vise will weaken it for a sword, or shake it for a pistol.”
Never was I more played upon and pleased than by the coolness of Noah, who showed as steady, not to say indifferent, as he who acts a part in a theater.
“I shall have your life for this!” screamed Catron, who, in the hands of friends and still blind of the whiskey, was carried to another room.
When something like peace fell, I asked Noah to explain. I would understand this violence; the more since it looked to be half-plan on Noah's part. Kendall and Hill were with us and made four for our conversation.
“Nothing, save your presence,” he replied. “As you observe, I was provoking a fight—not a most amiable44 attitude, I confess. But you will hear my reasons. Since I saw you, I have found how there exists a clique45 of bloods—they are of both the Clay and Calhoun parties—who go about grossly assailing46 Mrs. Eaton. There is concert in their villainy; and they relax themselves at intervals48 with threats of violence against any who shall take Mrs. Eaton's part. A duel49—a prompt, sharp duel, with a wound or two—is the best, in truth! the only way to stifle50 them. There is nothing like steel or lead to teach such gentry51 mildness and a Christian spirit.”
Noah laughed over the adjective.
“And have you put yourself forward,” I demanded, “as that master who is to give these lessons of lead and steel?”
“What could be better?” returned Noah. “I am cold and steady, and not apt for error. Again, I am of no such overt52 and particular emphasis in the General's designs as to link his name too much with this ruffle53. Since it is to be, I think I am excellently the hand for the work; and I hold it fortunate I am here when I so dovetail with events.”
“And what is to come?” said I.
“Indubitably, a challenge,” broke in Kendall. “The Maryland Catrons are of touchwood stock. They duel for their pleasure.” Then with an inflection of warning. “This Catron will ask for swords!”
“Swords should do exceeding well,” remarked Noah. “It should go through sharply, this affair, for the best moral effect on others of his ill-tongued clan54. With swords we might fight in a room, since they make no noise. Let us meet at once. In an hour this Catron's eyes will cease to burn, and he'll see the better for it.”
“But, mind you, Catron is a master of the sword,” said Kendall. “He had the best teachers in Florence.”
“Should he show you my blood,” returned Noah, coldly, “I will avouch55 him the best fencer of America.”
There would be a duel, so much I could tell. And yet the situation put me to deepest thought. I was sorry for Peg's name in it, too; that would mean no end of talk.
“There is no end of talk as it stands,” argued Noah. “It were best to make Mrs. Eaton's fame the issue. I could have forced a quarrel on his insults for that I was a Jew. But I hold it better as it is. Mrs. Eaton was the one question worth duelling with such a bully56 about; but for the duel to be of suppressive virtue57, it is required to have the casus belli surely shown.”
Noah was profoundly right in these arguments; the next day's sequel of silence on the cautious parts of our anti-Eaton swashbucklers remarked as much.
“You speak of this Catron as a bully,” commented Hill. “I know nothing of your code, for it does not obtain in New Hampshire. But is a gentleman bound to take notice of the vaporings of a bully—a mere58 blackguard?”
“One may be a bully,” returned the steady Noah, “and none the less patrician59 for that. Indeed, your prince oft takes his purple blood for license60. Who was Alcibiades but a bully-boy of Athens? Who have been the bullies61 of London town, with their Mohocks and Hell Fire Clubs, but the nobility and royal princes? No, believe me, sir;” and Noah's lip twitched62 sarcastically63, “the bully's blood is sometimes blue.”
It was settled that I should second the interests of Noah. At a first blink, this arrangement might have the look of the General's fat in the fire, since we professed64 anxiety to keep his name clear of the muddle65. But there are two ends to a lane; our purpose was attained when the General's want of personal knowledge found demonstration66. That plain, it was next good to have it understood how the Jackson interest was at the Noah shoulder. These reasons, and because I owned experience of such arbitraments—for I had lived where pistols, barking at ten paces, were rife8 enough—taught Noah his preference for me over Kendall and Hill, who had seen fewer of these bickers68, the latter none at all.
“They will be the challenging party,” I observed to Noah; “that gives us the choice of arms.”
“Should Kendall be right,” said Noah, “as to the Florentine studies of our friend, he will prefer swords. Suppose you concede swords on condition he fight at once.”
Even while we conferred, there came Pigeon-breast, my friend of the clanking saber and gold heels, to wait upon us. The sight of me as sponsor for Noah caused Pigeon-breast a dubious69 start; possibly he feared lest the General resent his presence as the avowed70 ally of the enemy. Indeed poor Pigeon-breast expressed his thought.
“It is to be hoped,” faltered71 Pigeon-breast, in his high-pitched tenor72, “you will represent me, sir, in certain quarters you know of, as acting73 solely74 for the honor of my friend. My personal position as to the subject matter of the quarrel must not be deduced from that.”
I maintained myself with gravity, as folk about a litigation of honor should; also, I set Pigeon-breast easy on risks and perils76 for himself. In the matter of weapons Pigeon-breast fair fell upon my neck.
“It is for you to name weapons,” quoth Pigeon-breast. Then, with hesitation77: “If it meet your view, however, we for our side would welcome swords.”
“And that is a highly improper78 remark, permit me to say.” My attitude was purposely severe. It would throw Pigeon-breast into confusion. “Since the choice is with us, it is neither graceful79 nor safe for you to try to lead it.”
“Surely,” protested Pigeon-breast, “I meant no unfairness, no offence. But with swords, sir, this might come quietly off in town. Should you say pistols, it will mean Bladensburg; and the mud is girth deep.”
At the word “mud,” poor Pigeon-breast gazed upon his varnished80 boots and bandbox regimentals with round eyes of apprehension81. I took advantage of Pigeon-breast's solicitude82 and feminine terror of Bladensburg mire83 to say that if we might have our men up at once, it would tell strongly in favor of swords. Of course, my haste was to have the thing finished before some waifword of it reached the General's ear.
“Why, I believe an hour from now,” said Pigeon-breast, hopefully, “might suit us extremely well. That would make it sharp noon. Shall we say noon?”
“And the ball room at Gadsby's?” I returned. Having considered, I deemed it best to be out of the Indian Queen with this clash.
Gadsby's was to the taste of Pigeon-breast; it would serve admirably. Also, Pigeon-breast would bring a brace84 of rapiers.
Thus was it adjusted between the militant85 Pigeon-breast and myself. Pigeon-breast withdrew, giving me a most sweeping86 bow; but carefully keeping his hand to himself, by which I saw that he was not unversed in the etiquette87 of the field.
Returning to Noah, I laid before him our arrangements; incidentally, I would get a morsel88 of food, since I had had none that morning, and my stomach was much inclined to take this neglect in dudgeon.
Having a private parlor89 to ourselves, for Kendall and Hill would lunch with me, I sent for what we craved90 and urged dispatch. The repast was brought, and while we did it honor with knife and fork, Noah sipped91 a thimbleful of sherry, saying he accepted it to quicken the eye and give vigor92 and pliancy93 to the wrist.
As we lunched, Noah called for a messenger.
“Find Mr. Rivera,” said Noah; “bring him to me here.”
There was a question on my tongue; it covered the charge tossed over my shoulder by the man, Witherspoon, that Noah had fixed94 the country's status as a nation of heathen among the powers of the earth.
“The statement is true,” said Noah; “the story is brief. It was during the last war, and while I represented the country in Tunis. A Yankee privateer, little but valiant95, came into port towing a hulking English merchantman, whereof, cutlass in hand, he had made prize. The Yankee would have the merchantman condemned96 in the courts of Tunis, and sold. The British minister objected; he recalled the Bey, before whom we both appeared, to his treaty made with England. One clause precluded97 the use of Tunis as a port of condemnation98 for English ships made prize in wars between England and any other 'Christian nation.' The phrase was 'Christian nation.' There was no going about the treaty; it stood in ink and sheepskin. Whereupon I read the learned Bey—himself a darkened pagan—our constitution. I showed him we were not a 'Christian nation,' but admitted every creed99 or sect100 or sept or faith of men, Gentile or Jew or Musselman, and all on common terms. It was impossible we should be a 'Christian nation;' the treaty with England did not in this instance tie his hands. The Bey held with me; America was not a 'Christian nation;' the prize was condemned and sold. The Bey would receive one-fifth of the proceeds of that sale; which may or may not have aided his wisdom to the decision I've described. Still, it was a decision; and since it never has been quarreled with or overturned, a heathen country we remain to this day in the eye of international law.”
As Noah ended his scrap101 of history, a tall young man, square and heavy of shoulders, and with every movement of his body as smoothly102 sure and sinuous103 as the movements of a cat, appeared. He was that Rivera for whom Noah had sent.
“Go to my rooms and bring me a pair of swords,” said Noah.
“The smallswords?” asked Rivera, with just a thought of interest.
“No; the Spanish swords.”
“Who is your armorer?” I asked of Noah when Rivera was gone.
This boy I had come across before. He had drawn104 himself upon my attention by the panther grace and strength told of in his motions. Large, long of limb, and heavy, there was yet a brisk lightness with him to hold one like a spell.
“His name,” responded Noah, “is Rivera—Michael Rivera—and his blood flows a fantastic, almost a formidable mixture. His mother was a maid of my mother; an Irish lass she was, and came out of Tipperary. The father, on the far other hand, was a Spanish Jew; by trade a bull-fighter, the foremost toreador of Seville, where, when my family was visiting in Spain, the impressionable Tipperary maiden105 lost her heart to him as he flourished bloodily106 about the arena107. They were married by the padre, for Rivera senior, while pure Jew, was none the less pure Catholic; under Spanish law he could have had no place among the bull-fighters else, since in Spain it is not permitted to be cruel unless one first be Christian. My protege, who goes for the swords, is the fruit of that union; now, his parents being dead, and because he was born among my people, he abides108 with me. He has a drowsy109, honest soul—though hot enough when moved—and he loves me. He would accept death for me like a dog.”
“And what is his part with you?” asked Kendall. The tale of Rivera interested us.
“No part,” responded Noah, “more than to go where I go, and come where I come; to fetch and to carry and to do my word. He is well taught of books; but owns ideas not at all, for he has no width nor current of conjecture110. Yet you are not to believe him a fool. He is silent, but blithe111 to obey, and true as blade to hilt. I keep him for he would have otherwise no support. If I turned him on the world, he could not make a dollar—nor guard it if he should. In that fiscal112 particular, the Jew in him has balked113 and broken down.” Noah laughed lightly. “The faithful Rivera,” he went on, “has, however, certain advantages. There is a compensation, an equilibrium114, in nature. Rivera, slow of brain, possesses the muscle-power of a Hercules; moreover, in those twin arts of boxing and wrestling, it's to be doubted if his over-lord exists. Some day, in some moment of brutality—being now and again overtaken of such—I shall have Rivera to England to beat Bendigo and Ward40. The prize-ring is his one opening for eminence115. And I—as does the immortal116 Byron, who has more pride of fisticuffs than verse—applaud the ring.”
While Noah talked, I was yielding him my meed of tacit admiration117. Here was a man, a creature of quills118 and ink, too, within minutes of meeting, edge to edge, with one keen of his weapon, and a declared adept119 among sword fighters. And clearly, the business was no more upon his spirit than if the day bore no grim promise, but only smiles. It was more than courage, it was the absolute absence of fear; he leaned back with his sherry, and the little story of his young Spanish Irish-Jew, as though hate were not at that same moment of time whetting120 a rapier with hope against his life. His foreclaim of being cold and steady was not a boast which wanted feet to stand upon.
Rivera came back, bearing the swords wrapped from casual eye in the folds of a cloak. I drew one—a plain rapier or Spanish sword—and of as superb temper as any to come from its birth-forge of Toledo.
“They are brothers, those swords,” said Noah; “there is none better. I had them from the hands of that Bey who branded us as heathen, and so fretted121 the friend of Henry Clay. And since, in a pastime such as we go about, a fullest confidence in one's weapon is important, you will prefer these for me if the choice be given you.” This was spoken to me.
Rivera knelt down, and taking off his patron's shoes, replaced them with light fencing slippers123, whereof the soles crackled with a fresh coat of resin124. Then came loose overshoes, meant to protect the others on the road to Gads-by's from intervening mud. Having done this, and saying not a word whether of question or remark, the boy stood back as waiting the next command. I was ever reckoned a judge of anything on two legs or four, as became the best quartermaster the General ever had, and I've yet to glimpse so perfect—so splendidly, so accurately125 perfect—an example of the physical man as showed in this youth, with his brown hair, brown eyes, dark skin, and round thick neck like the carved column of some sculptor126.
It was time to be off for Gadsby's, no mighty127 journey, being just across the street. As we were about departing, Noah called to Rivera, who exhibited no more distrust of a finale than was present with the other, and observed: “I shall be hungry on my return. Have a fowl128 and a flask129 of wine set out for me in my own rooms.”
Rivera bowed as one who understands; and giving me the cloak to be still a refuge for the Toledoes, watched us, as by a side door we got onto the walk and headed for Gadsby's over the way.
There were the four of us, Noah, Kendall, Hill, and myself, when we came into that great room of Gadsby's which was reserved for routs130 and dancing. It was a large and lofty room with a gallery all about. We had the place to ourselves for the moment; Pigeon-breast and his principal were yet to arrive upon the scene.
Noah kicked off the overshoes, and stepped and scrubbed his feet against the flooring boards. The experiment ended to his taste.
“The resin holds,” he remarked. Then glancing about the vast apartment, he came back to me with a smile: “It's like fighting in a 10-acre field,” said he.
Pigeon-breast appeared by a far door. Besides his bully principal, there were two others, for I had named the propriety131 of witnesses and suggested the number. I crossed over and greeted Pigeon-breast, and then led him aside.
“Is either of the gentlemen with you,” said I, “a surgeon?”
“Why, no,” returned Pigeon-breast, “the thing clean slipped my mind.”
“It might be well to send, then,” I said, “for I think he will be wanted.”
Pigeon-breast spoke122 to the others, who, with Catron between them, had continued near the door. Pigeon-breast, after a word, returned to me.
“There is a surgeon below,” he reported; “he will be with us like winking132, for he loves this kind of thing.”
“And now the swords,” I said. “We may as well transact133 preliminaries as far as we can go while waiting.”
Pigeon-breast suggested we spin a coin, their weapons or ours. It fell for ours; a good omen41, I thought, albeit134 a look at Noah, where he gazed carelessly from a window, face immovable as granite135, gave encouragement enough to declare war for a crown. I went over to tell him we had won the use of our Toledoes.
“That sounds well,” he said. “I like good tools, especially when the work demanded leans upon the fine.”
“For the one matter of his life,” returned Noah, “he's as safe as though this dancing room were a church. Beyond that, however, I shall take such measures with him that, for months, who sees him shall know what reward is waiting on cowards who vilify137 a pure girl.”
Pigeon-breast signaled for a word. Taking me to a remote corner, he argued that our duties required we discuss the possibility of apology.
“They must fight a little first,” I retorted. “There is no room between epithets138 such as 'rogue' and 'liar139' to squeeze in an explanation. These folk must fight while both can hold out swords.”
This was not butcher's taste; but I began to see with Noah, that the mouths against us must be silenced,—at least the men. We would begin with Catron; we would duel our way through the social register, if need beckoned140, to purchase that justice of silence for our Peg.
Poor Peg! she was not to lie helpless in every cur's mouth, to be torn at as most pleased his cruelty or best fattened141 his interest. The more the situation ran before me, the more my breast took fire; I sustained a strict face, however, engaged as I was upon the parade ground of honor and in the service of a gentleman. Still, I said enough, and said it in such fashion that Pigeon-breast, now a little nervous when the actual steel was about to be drawn, saw nothing for it but to bring forward his fellow. This, I admit, he managed in a genteel way; nor did Catron either whiten or lag backward, but stepped to his place as might he who is warm for vengeance142. I did not like this Catron's looks; surely the creature was a blackguard with no right to name himself among gentlefolk, only so far as one might lie within the accident of decent birth. But he seemed stout143 enough of kidney, though that may have grown with a belief in his infallible craft of the sword.
We gave our men their arms; and as, stripped to their shirts, they stood apart, awaiting signal to engage, Noah put point to floor, and bearing hard upon the hilt, bent his blade double. Abruptly144 lifting his hand, the honest steel sprang straight, and the sword was tossed high in the air. As it fell, with the clear, sureness of legerdemain145, Noah caught it by the hilt. It was no more than a flourish of the fencing school, perhaps; but it served to hearten me mightily146 and to put me confident of victory. Neither was it wanting in effect, I may suppose, on the volatile147 Pigeon-breast and his man, Catron; I thought on their side it made somewhat for a certain seriousness of face.
Speaking now of the battle, I must warn you of my inability to tell the tale in nice and hair-line strokes. It was a notable fight, valorously sustained and fairly made; but indubitably it did not remain in one like myself—wholly ignorant of that fencing which pushes or stabs, and admirable with a saber no farther than striking a downright blow with the edge—to catch close work, and taste the merit of it. I have no more of fencing than of Sanscrit, and remember no work, of my own of that character beyond splitting an Indian's head like a pumpkin148 in a skirmish on the Tombigbee. I am strong of arm, and having the day before come across the long hair of seven white women, murdered at Fort Mimms, smoke-drying in the wigwams of a Creek149 village we sacked, I doubtless smote150 upon that savage21 with uncommon151 violence.
When the pair engaged, there were preliminary moments employed in feeling one another's strength. The swords kept up an incessant152 thin rasping, with an occasional singing note as they parted company for thrust or parry. Even my uneducated vision observed from the commencement how Noah held the better of it. His address was superior; and I should say that, with a stiffer wrist, he was withal the more falcon-like in assault, and readier of recovery.
Catron, by his brow of fury, meant death if he might only clothe his point for it. That was not to be. On the heels of a desperate stroke—it was fellow to a dozen that preceded it—which Noah foiled with blade describing a circle no bigger than a curtain-ring, Catron's flushed cheek faded to ghastly gray. For the moment I thought him touched; but no, it was but the sudden daunting153 conviction that he had met his master. This, breaking on him like the boom of a death-bell, and how his life stood now naked before one whom he had so provoked, ate the yolk154 from his courage like a weasel.
Catron foresaw his downfall before we who looked on might tell. And if I am to understand a gray, drawn face, then the news taught him the bitterness of death itself.
In the opening exchanges, Catron attacked. He was in and out with a hateful ferocity, thrusting and pressing, as one whose merest wish is murder. Noah gave backward not at all, but stood like a wall, risking all on eye and wrist. I could not catch the sleight155 of it, but again and again, as Catron thrust, I could see the lead-colored blade glimmer156 by Noah's side with not an open inch to give away. As Noah told me later, however, an inch in fencing is a wide margin157.
Catron felt his strength slip from him; it was like the sands running from an hour-glass. But the rogue's heart summoned stoutness158. Finding himself going, Catron must crowd the strife to an end before it ended him. He leaped back to get his distance; then without pause, and giving a sort of bellowing159, roaring cry that may have been a scheme for terror, he sprang forward, sending on his point as straight as the stroke of a serpent.
What befell was like the lightning's flash; and no man's gaze, however trained to the trick of it, might follow. Noah did not parry, but stood aside from the other's point, which, passing, grazed his garments. Noah's point, in retort, entered Catron's sword arm just above the guard. I saw Noah hold his own hand high, and with point a bit lowered. Noah ripped up his foe's arm—split it like a mackerel!—from wrist to shoulder.
It was a gaping160 furrow161 of a wound; and the horrid162 shock of it, when Noah's steel caught in the shoulder bones, brought the wretched Catron to the floor. The blood ran away in a crimson163 rivulet164 from the prostrate165 one; and to tell the best and the worst of me, I've yet to look on blood, or anything besides, which brought me so much of comfort and of the sweetness of peace.
While the surgeon, needle and lint166 going, dealt with Catron, I conveyed Noah to the end of the room. We must await the report of yon fellow's condition; we could not leave the field without consent of Pigeon-breast—quite pale and stricken now, was Pigeon-breast, as he stood watching while the bandages were wound.
Following a nod of the surgeon's, Pigeon-breast came towards me. I met him on his way.
“The thing is ended,” said Pigeon-breast; his voice came huskily, and in a fashion faint. “The thing is at an end. My friend can not hold sword.”
“That is enough,” said I.
“One word, sir,” said Noah, coming forward, handkerchief all red where he had been cleaning his blade; “you are to take notice: I from this day shall seek out with challenge each man who speaks evil of Mrs. Eaton. That creature who lies there, and whom, maugre his wound, I still contemn167 for the rogue and fetch-dog of Henry Clay I painted him, may be for warning.”
“But has Mrs. Eaton no husband to fight for her?” sputtered168 Pigeon-breast, not relishing169 Noah's attitude.
“Let that go by,” retorted Noah, sternly. “Your diplomacy170 shall not reach. Again I tell you, he who shall assail47 Mrs. Eaton with word or look, or who fails to please that lady with his conduct, replies to me. I wounded this one; I shall slay the next.”
“What is this to be?” cried Pigeon-breast, appealing to me in a flutter of spiteful fright. “Is it that we have a bravo?”
“A bravo whom you are like to encounter, sir,” I said, “unless you teach your tongue some prudence—you and your tribe.”
“Sir, I would refuse to meet a bravo.”
“Sir, you would meet the bravo or meet me.” Then came a rush of temper about my heart. I thought on poor Peg; and a great anger began to flame in me. I glowered171 on the tinsel Pigeon-breast; then I thrust towards him my huge bear-paw hands. Pigeon-breast considered them, and the hairy wrists like pistons172, with a kind of interest of dismay. “Sir,” said I, “the first foul173 dog among you who shall so much as take the name of that innocent one upon his lips, I'll find him out, and with the ruth one grants to rattlesnakes, I'll kill him with these fingers.”
And so ended that blood letting which was meant to tie the tongue of slander174 and in a measure did.
“I shall leave it to you,” observed Noah as we came away, “to place this affair before the President in a right light. His is the only judgment175 whose favor I would seek, and that, particularly, for that his name is certain to figure in the story of this bicker67 whenever it is told. I would not have him think I had rashly put him in peril75 of criticism.”
“There should be no alarm on that score,” I replied. “My word for it, the General will endorse176 with his full name every step we have taken.”
On our return to the Indian Queen we found Rivera waiting, and a table spread in Noah's apartment as he had commanded. Rivera received the Spanish swords, still wrapped in the concealing177 cloak. He drew forth of its scabbard the blade which had armed Noah's hand; it still carried a stain or two of that Catron's blood, and Rivera's eye seemed to fire with a sleepy satisfaction while he looked on it. Then he turned his gaze on his patron in a manner of inquiry178.
“No, he will live,” said Noah, as though in reply to a query179 put by his protege; “it was not to kill him that we went across the way.”
At this news, Rivera took the Spanish swords and withdrew; and all with the evident purpose of putting them in order against a next campaign.
“I think,” said I, as Noah drew up to the table—for it would seem that his work had given his appetite an edge, not dulled it—“I think I shall hunt up our friend the General. There is slight chance of any being before me; and yet I would make sure to bring him the earliest word of what has chanced.”
Both Hill and Kendall would be for leaving, also, and as we three arose to go Noah filled a quartet of glasses with Burgundy. Offering one to each, he said: “Let us drink to the defeat, ay! even to the death of ones who would bear false witness against the innocent. May their best fate be no better than the fate of him whom we met to-day.”
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1
surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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2
brew
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| v.酿造，调制 | |
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3
suave
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| adj.温和的；柔和的；文雅的 | |
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4
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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5
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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6
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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7
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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8
rife
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| adj.(指坏事情)充斥的，流行的，普遍的 | |
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9
foretell
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| v.预言，预告，预示 | |
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10
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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11
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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12
altercation
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| n.争吵，争论 | |
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13
advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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14
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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15
epithet
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| n.（用于褒贬人物等的）表述形容词，修饰语 | |
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16
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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17
valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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18
modulate
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| v.调整，调节(音的强弱)；变调 | |
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19
colloquy
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| n.谈话，自由讨论 | |
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20
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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21
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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22
savagery
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| n.野性 | |
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23
injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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24
muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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25
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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26
expound
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| v.详述；解释；阐述 | |
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27
gnawing
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| a.痛苦的，折磨人的 | |
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28
enigma
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| n.谜，谜一样的人或事 | |
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29
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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30
cataract
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| n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障 | |
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31
malediction
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| n.诅咒 | |
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32
decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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33
fiber
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| n.纤维，纤维质 | |
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34
peg
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| n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定 | |
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35
rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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36
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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37
venom
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| n.毒液，恶毒，痛恨 | |
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38
viper
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| n.毒蛇；危险的人 | |
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39
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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40
ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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41
omen
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| n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示 | |
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42
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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43
riddle
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| n.谜，谜语，粗筛；vt.解谜，给…出谜，筛，检查，鉴定，非难，充满于；vi.出谜 | |
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44
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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45
clique
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| n.朋党派系，小集团 | |
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46
assailing
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| v.攻击( assail的现在分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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47
assail
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| v.猛烈攻击，抨击，痛斥 | |
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48
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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49
duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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50
stifle
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| vt.使窒息；闷死；扼杀；抑止，阻止 | |
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51
gentry
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| n.绅士阶级，上层阶级 | |
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52
overt
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| adj.公开的，明显的，公然的 | |
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53
ruffle
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| v.弄皱，弄乱；激怒，扰乱；n.褶裥饰边 | |
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54
clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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55
avouch
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| v.确说，断言 | |
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56
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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57
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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58
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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59
patrician
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| adj.贵族的，显贵的；n.贵族；有教养的人；罗马帝国的地方官 | |
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60
license
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| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
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61
bullies
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| n.欺凌弱小者, 开球 vt.恐吓, 威胁, 欺负 | |
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62
twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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63
sarcastically
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| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
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64
professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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65
muddle
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| n.困惑，混浊状态；vt.使混乱，使糊涂，使惊呆；vi.胡乱应付，混乱 | |
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66
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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67
bicker
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| vi.(为小事)吵嘴，争吵 | |
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68
bickers
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| v.争吵( bicker的第三人称单数 )；口角；（水等）作潺潺声；闪烁 | |
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69
dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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70
avowed
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| adj.公开声明的，承认的v.公开声明，承认( avow的过去式和过去分词) | |
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71
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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72
tenor
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| n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意 | |
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73
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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74
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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75
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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76
perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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77
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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78
improper
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| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
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79
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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80
varnished
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| 浸渍过的，涂漆的 | |
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81
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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82
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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83
mire
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| n.泥沼，泥泞；v.使...陷于泥泞，使...陷入困境 | |
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84
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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85
militant
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| adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士 | |
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86
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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87
etiquette
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| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
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88
morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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89
parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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90
craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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91
sipped
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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92
vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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93
pliancy
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| n.柔软，柔顺 | |
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94
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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95
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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96
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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97
precluded
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| v.阻止( preclude的过去式和过去分词 )；排除；妨碍；使…行不通 | |
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98
condemnation
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| n.谴责; 定罪 | |
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99
creed
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| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
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100
sect
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| n.派别，宗教，学派，派系 | |
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101
scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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102
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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103
sinuous
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| adj.蜿蜒的，迂回的 | |
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104
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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105
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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106
bloodily
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| adv.出血地；血淋淋地；残忍地；野蛮地 | |
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107
arena
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| n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台 | |
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108
abides
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| 容忍( abide的第三人称单数 )； 等候； 逗留； 停留 | |
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109
drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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110
conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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111
blithe
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| adj.快乐的，无忧无虑的 | |
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112
fiscal
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| adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的 | |
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113
balked
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| v.畏缩不前，犹豫( balk的过去式和过去分词 )；（指马）不肯跑 | |
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114
equilibrium
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| n.平衡，均衡，相称，均势，平静 | |
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115
eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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116
immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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117
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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118
quills
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| n.（刺猬或豪猪的）刺( quill的名词复数 )；羽毛管；翮；纡管 | |
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119
adept
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| adj.老练的，精通的 | |
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120
whetting
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| v.（在石头上）磨（刀、斧等）( whet的现在分词 )；引起，刺激（食欲、欲望、兴趣等） | |
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121
fretted
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| 焦躁的，附有弦马的，腐蚀的 | |
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122
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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123
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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124
resin
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| n.树脂，松香，树脂制品；vt.涂树脂 | |
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125
accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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126
sculptor
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| n.雕刻家，雕刻家 | |
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127
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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128
fowl
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| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
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129
flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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130
routs
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| n.打垮，赶跑( rout的名词复数 )；（体育）打败对方v.打垮，赶跑( rout的第三人称单数 )；（体育）打败对方 | |
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131
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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132
winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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133
transact
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| v.处理；做交易；谈判 | |
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134
albeit
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| conj.即使；纵使；虽然 | |
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135
granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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136
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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137
vilify
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| v.诽谤，中伤 | |
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138
epithets
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| n.（表示性质、特征等的）词语( epithet的名词复数 ) | |
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139
liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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140
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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141
fattened
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| v.喂肥( fatten的过去式和过去分词 )；养肥（牲畜）；使（钱）增多；使（公司）升值 | |
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142
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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144
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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145
legerdemain
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| n.戏法，诈术 | |
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146
mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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147
volatile
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| adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质 | |
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148
pumpkin
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| n.南瓜 | |
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149
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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150
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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152
incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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153
daunting
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| adj.使人畏缩的 | |
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154
yolk
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| n.蛋黄，卵黄 | |
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155
sleight
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| n.技巧，花招 | |
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156
glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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157
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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stoutness
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| 坚固，刚毅 | |
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159
bellowing
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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160
gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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furrow
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| n.沟；垄沟；轨迹；车辙；皱纹 | |
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horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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164
rivulet
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| n.小溪，小河 | |
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165
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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166
lint
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| n.线头；绷带用麻布，皮棉 | |
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167
contemn
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| v.蔑视 | |
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168
sputtered
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| v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的过去式和过去分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出 | |
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169
relishing
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| v.欣赏( relish的现在分词 )；从…获得乐趣；渴望 | |
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170
diplomacy
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| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
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171
glowered
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| v.怒视( glower的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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172
pistons
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| 活塞( piston的名词复数 ) | |
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173
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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174
slander
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| n./v.诽谤，污蔑 | |
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175
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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176
endorse
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| vt.(支票、汇票等)背书，背署；批注；同意 | |
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177
concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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178
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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179
query
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| n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑 | |
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