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with an earnest look。 ‘He and Mr Haredale are going to fight a
duel in it。’
Everybody looked at Mr Willet； after this alarming suggestion。
Mr Willet looked at the fire； weighing in his own mind the effect
which such an occurrence would be likely to have on the
establishment。
‘Well；’ said John； ‘I don’t know—I am sure—I remember that
when I went up last； he had put the lights upon the mantel…shelf。’
‘It’s as plain；’ returned Solomon； ‘as the nose on Parkes’s
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face’—Mr Parkes； who had a large nose； rubbed it； and looked as if
he considered this a personal allusion—‘they’ll fight in that room。
You know by the newspapers what a common thing it is for
gentlemen to fight in coffee…houses without seconds。 One of ’em
will be wounded or perhaps killed in this house。’
‘That was a challenge that Barnaby took then； eh？’ said John。
‘—Inclosing a slip of paper with the measure of his sword upon
it； I’ll bet a guinea；’ answered the little man。 ‘We know what sort of
gentleman Mr Haredale is。 You have told us what Barnaby said
about his looks； when he came back。 Depend upon it； I’m right。
Now； mind。’
The flip had had no flavour till now。 The tobacco had been of
mere English growth； compared with its present taste。 A duel in
that great old rambling room upstairs； and the best bed ordered
already for the wounded man！
‘Would it be swords or pistols； now？’ said John。
‘Heaven knows。 Perhaps both；’ returned Solomon。 ‘The
gentlemen wear swords； and may easily have pistols in their
pockets—most likely have； indeed。 If they fire at each other
without effect； then they’ll draw； and go to work in earnest。’
A shade passed over Mr Willet’s face as he thought of broken
windows and disabled furniture； but bethinking himself that one
of the parties would probably be left alive to pay the damage； he
brightened up again。
‘And then；’ said Solomon； looking from face to face； ‘then we
shall have one of those stains upon the floor that never come out。
If Mr Haredale wins； depend upon it； it’ll be a deep one； or if he
loses； it will perhaps be deeper still； for he’ll never give in unless
he’s beaten down。 We know him better； eh？’
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‘Better indeed！’ they whispered all together。
‘As to its ever being got out again；’ said Solomon； ‘I tell you it
never will； or can be。 Why； do you know that it has been tried； at a
certain house we are acquainted with？’
‘The Warren！’ cried John。 ‘No； sure！’
‘Yes； sure—yes。 It’s only known by very few。 It has been
whispered about though； for all that。 They planed the board away；
but there it was。 They went deep； but it went deeper。 They put
new boards down； but there was one great spot that came through
still； and showed itself in the old place。 And—harkye—draw
nearer—Mr Geoffrey made that room his study； and sits there；
always； with his foot （as I have heard） upon it； and he believes；
through thinking of it long and very much； that it will never fade
until he finds the man who did the deed。’
As this recital ended； and they all drew closer round the fire；
the tramp of a horse was heard without。
‘The very man！’ cried John； starting up。 ‘Hugh！ Hugh！’
The sleeper staggered to his feet； and hurried after him。 John
quickly returned； ushering in with great attention and deference
（for Mr Haredale was his landlord） the long…expected visitor； who
strode into the room clanking his heavy boots upon the floor； and
looking keenly round upon the bowing group； raised his hat in
acknowledgment of their profound respect。
‘You have a stranger here； Willet； who sent to me；’ he said； in a
voice which sounded naturally stern and deep。 ‘Where is he？’
‘In the great room upstairs； sir；’ answered John。
‘Show the way。 Your staircase is dark； I know。 Gentlemen； good
night。’
With that； he signed to the landlord to go on before； and went
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clanking out； and up the stairs； old John； in his agitation；
ingeniously lighting everything but the way； and making a stumble
at every second step。
‘Stop！’ he said； when they reached the landing。 ‘I can announce
myself。 Don’t wait。’
He laid his hand upon the door； entered； and shut it heavily。 Mr
Willet was by no means disposed to stand there listening by
himself； especially as the walls were very thick； so descended； with
much greater alacrity than he had come up； and joined his friends
below。
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Chapter 12
here was a brief pause in the state…room of the Maypole； as
Mr Haredale tried the lock to satisfy himself that he had
T
shut the door securely； and； striding up the dark chamber
to where the screen inclosed a little patch of light and warmth；
presented himself； abruptly and in silence； before the smiling
guest。
If the two had no greater sympathy in their inward thoughts
than in their outward bearing and appearance； the meeting did
not seem likely to prove a very calm or pleasant one。 With no great
disparity between them in point of years； they were； in every other
respect； as unlike and far removed from each other as two men
could well be。 The one was soft…spoken； delicately made； precise；
and elegant； the other； a burly square…built man； negligently
dressed； rough and abrupt in manner； stern； and； in his