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Chapter 24
“Iamsorryforthat,”saidI,“forIamnotdone;andifyoudistastethesermon,Idoubtthepirliecuewillpleaseyouaslittle.Youhavebeenchasedinthefieldbythegrownmenofmyparty;itseemsapoorkindofpleasuretoout-faceaboy.BoththeCampbellsandtheWhigshavebeatenyou;youhaverunbeforethemlikeahare.Itbehovesyoutospeakofthemasofyourbetters.”
Alanstoodquitestill,thetailsofhisgreat-coatclappingbehindhiminthewind.
“Thisisapity,”hesaidatlast.“Therearethingssaidthatcannotbepassedover.”
“Ineveraskedyouto,”saidI.“Iamasreadyasyourself.”
“Ready?”saidhe.
“Ready,”Irepeated.“IamnoblowerandboasterlikesomethatIcouldname.Comeon!”Anddrawingmysword,IfellonguardasAlanhimselfhadtaughtme.
“David!”hecried.“Areyedaft?Icannaedrawuponye,David.It’sfairmurder.”
“Thatwasyourlook-outwhenyouinsultedme,”saidI.
“It’sthetruth!”criedAlan,andhestoodforamoment,wringinghismouthinhishandlikeamaninsoreperplexity.“It’sthebaretruth,”hesaid,anddrewhissword.ButbeforeIcouldtouchhisbladewithmine,hehadthrownitfromhimandfallentotheground.“Na,na,”hekeptsaying,“na,na—Icannae,Icannae.”
Atthisthelastofmyangeroozedalloutofme;andIfoundmyselfonlysick,andsorry,andblank,andwonderingatmyself.
