Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 145: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

g CLOVELLY. Clovelly stood up, white-lipped from the shame of his defeat, almost the first that had ever come to him sword in hand. “Tush, man, tush!” said Ipswich. “‘ You act as though some fat old man had beaten you, or some boy newly come into his swordship and his oaths. But I tell you, man, that no man living can say that he has seen Ipswich worsted with the small sword. “* Matters went a bit against me at first; my wind is short and I’m damnably out of practice. But aside from that, and the bit of bad luck which brought you a fall, I think I should have paid you home be- fore the end.” Thus spoke the duke, raising his spirits as he argued more with himself than with the other. He had been a desperate and half- beaten man a moment before, shamed and helpless before the swordsmanship of Clov- elly. But now, as he talked of the battle, he smoothed out the doubt from his brain. He was laying the basis for a magnificent lie, concerning that battle, which would be bruited through the fashionable circles of London the next day. And as he thought how much that tale would do to establish him as an Achilles as well as a Paris, he could not help looking upon his associate with a greater warmth of good feeling. At least, Clovelly made no reply and his si- lence might be interpreted as an agree- ment. “However,” continued his grace, “I have no desire to use my sword to make my fortune—or to save it, even! We have fought for the lady fairly and honorably. ‘““Chance and the sword gives her to me. I might make no other payment. But in- stead, I shall carry out to the letter my first agreement with you. “The ship is prepared. You may take command of it when you will. And that ‘should prudently be as soon as possible, for the king’s men are looking for you, Clovelly. Old Hampton has put another five hundred pounds on top of his standing reward to any one who will bring about your capture—or your death!” ‘There is only one thing in the world which is of any concern to me,” said Clov- elly. o01 “The Spanish Main! Of course! Toa man of your metal, there must be action. England is a dull place. By gad, I feel it myself every day. Only dull habit makes a fool of me and keeps me here.” ‘Not the Spanish Main. There is only my wife, my lord.” Ipswich made a wry face. “You love her, Clovelly?” The husband shrugged his shoulders. ** But how under heaven you can,” said the duke, “is a miracle to me. You are aman of pride. And you have seen with your own eyes and heard with your own ears enough to—” Clovelly groaned. And at this, his grace drew back a little and looked at Clovelly with new eyes. “This is the way of it, then,” he nod- ded, speaking fMre to himself than to Clov- elly. “The tale of Samson and Delilah over again.” Clovelly was silent. : “Take up your sword!” said Ipswich suddenly. Clovelly’s eyes gleamed. Then, with a sigh, he murmured: “ Will you run that risk again, my lord?” His grace smiled faintly. “I have nothing to fear from that damned subtle blade of yours,” he declared. “You are an honest man, Clovelly. You are a thousand times more honest than you yourself guess, and I have nothing to fear from you. That sword will be locked into the sheath until I give it permission to be drawn.” Clovelly stooped without a word and re- placed the weapon in its scabbard. ‘Now, my friend, I can offer you a fair gambler’s chance.” ** My lord?” “The Spanish Main, to which a vow leads you, has shrunk to a small pond, I take it.” » “There is more treasure in one word from her than in a thousand galleons, your grace.” ‘Poetically expressed. Very much to the point. But concerning another matter: Tf you should attempt to live with her as man with wife, consider that you are also marrying your doubt af ben? ols conn