RODERICK

And so I am.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

And this is the return you make for his kindness! Didn't he harbor you in his house when your father died, and hasn't he given you and your mother, rent-free, your fine house of Jamesville yonder?

RODERICK

Mark this, come what will of it, I swear I will fight the man who pretends to the hand of Dorothy Dugan. I'll follow him if it's into the church, and meet him there. I'll have his blood, or he shall have mine. Will you take my message to him, and arrange the meeting?

CAPTAIN GROGAN

Well, if it must be, it must. For a young fellow, you are the most bloodthirsty I ever saw. No officer, bearing His Majesty's commission, can receive a glass of wine on his nose, without resenting it -- fight you must, and Best is a huge, strong fellow.

RODERICK

He'll give the better mark. I am not afraid of him.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

In faith, I believe you are not; for a lad I never saw more game in my life. Give me a kiss, my dear boy. You're after my own soul. As long as Jack Grogan lives, you shall never want a friend or a second. They embrace.

RODERICK (V.O.)

Poor fellow! He was shot six months afterwards, at Minden, and I lost thereby a kind friend. But we don't know what is in store for us, and that's a blessing.

Mother greeting Roderick and Captain Grogan.

RODERICK (V.O.)

In spite of my precautions to secrecy, I half-suspected that my mother knew all from the manner in which she embraced me on my arrival, and received our guest, Captain Grogan.

His mother looks a little anxious and flushed and, every now and then, gazes very hard into the Captain's face.

RODERICK (V.O.)

But she would not say a word about the quarrel, for she had a noble spirit, and would as lief have seen any one of her kindred hanged as shirking from the field of honor.

Roderick waking up.

RODERICK (V.O.)

I never slept sounder in my life, though I woke a little earlier than usual, and you may be sure my first thought was of the event of the day, for which I was fully prepared.

Roderick at table with paper and ink.

RODERICK (V.O.)

And now I sat down and wrote a couple of letters; they might be the last, thought I, that I should ever write in my life.

See him write: "Dearest Mother."

RODERICK (V.O.)

Then I went down to breakfast, where my mother was waiting for me, you may be sure. We did not say a single word about what was taking place.

Roderick eats his breakfast with a good appetite; but in helping himself to salt, spills it, on which his mother starts up with a scream.

MOTHER

Thank God, it's fallen towards me! And then, her heart being too full, she leaves the room.

RODERICK (V.O.)

Ah! They have their faults, those mothers; but are there any other women like them?

There is an elegant, silver-mounted sword that hangs on the mantelpiece under the picture of Roderick's late father.

A pair of pistols hang on each side of the picture.

Roderick takes down the sword and pistols, which are bright and well-oiled, and collects flints, balls and gunpowder.

Captain Grogan and Orderly arrive.

RODERICK

Have you taken my message to him?

CAPTAIN GROGAN

The meeting is arranged. Captain Best is waiting for you now.

RODERICK

My mare is saddled and ready; who's the captain's second?

CAPTAIN GROGAN

Your cousins go out with him. Roderick and Grogan, and the Orderly ride off.

RODERICK (V.O.)

I didn't take leave of Mrs. James. The curtains of her bedroom-windows were down, and they didn't move as we mounted and trotted off.

They ride their horses at a leisurely pace.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

That's a very handsome sword you have there.

RODERICK

It was with this sword that my late father, Harry James, God rest his soul, met Sir Huddelstone Fuddelstone, the Hampshire baronet, and was fatally run through the neck. He was quite in the wrong, having insulted Lady Fuddelstone, when in liquor, at the Brentford Assembly. But, like a gentleman, he scorned to apologize.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

And now you risk the same fate. If you are killed, your mother is all alone in the world.

RODERICK

I am Harry James' son, and will act as becomes my name and quality.

Harry, Michael and the Captain are already there. Best, flaming in red regimentals, a big a monster as ever led a grenadier company. The party are laughing together.

RODERICK

(to Captain Grogan)

I hope to spoil this sport, and trust to see this sword of mine in that big bully's body.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

Oh, it's with pistols we fight. You are no match for Best with the sword.

RODERICK

I'll match any man with the sword.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

But swords are today impossible; Captain Best is -- is lame. He knocked his knee against the swinging park gate last night, as he was riding home, and can scarce move it now.

RODERICK

Not against Castle Dugan gate, that has been off the hinges these ten years.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

It must have been some other gate.

They alight from their horses, and join and salute the other gentlemen.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

I have just explained to Mister James that Captain Best is lame, and that swords are impossible.

HARRY

Oh, yes! Dead lame.

Harry comes up to shake Roderick by the hand, while Captain Best takes off his hat, and turns extremely red.

HARRY

And very lucky for you, Roderick, my boy. You were a dead man else, for he is a devil of a fellow -- isn't he, Grogan?

CAPTAIN GROGAN

A regular Turk. I never yet knew the man who stood to Captain Best.

HARRY

Hang the business. I hate it. I'm ashamed of it. Say you're sorry, Roderick. You can easily say that.

CAPTAIN BEST

If the young feller will go to Dublin, as proposed...

RODERICK

I'm not sorry -- I'll not apologize -- and I'll as soon go to Dublin as to hell!

Grogan takes him aside.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

Look here, Roderick, my boy; this is silly business. The girl will marry Best, mark my words; and as sure as she does, you'll forget her. You are but a boy. Best is willing to consider you as such. Dublin's a fine place, and if you have a mind to take a ride thither and see the town for a month, here are twenty guineas at your service. Make Best an apology, and be off.

RODERICK

A man of honor dies, but never apologizes. I'll see the captain hanged before I apologize.

HARRY

(with a laugh to Grogan)

There's nothing else for it. Take your ground, Grogan -- twelve paces, I suppose?

CAPTAIN BEST

(in a big voice)

Ten, sir, and make them short ones, do you hear, Captain Grogan?

HARRY

Don't bully, Mr. Best. Here are the pistols.

(with some emotion to Roderick)

God bless you, my boy; and when I count three, fire.

RODERICK

This is not one of my pistols.

HARRY

They are all right, never fear. It's one of mine. Yours will serve, if they are needed, for the next round.