第603章 MR. PERCY AND THE PROPHET.(49)

"Was it Captain Bervie who quarreled with you?""Yes."

"Was it about me?"

"Yes."

"What did he say?"

"He said I had committed an impropriety in waltzing with you.""Why?"

"Because your parents disapproved of your waltzing in a public ballroom.""That's not true! What did he say next?"

"He said I had added tenfold to my offense, by waltzing with you in such a manner as to make you the subject of remark to the whole room.""Oh! did you let him say that?"

"No; I contradicted him instantly. And I said, besides, 'It's an insult to Miss Bowmore, to suppose that she would permit any impropriety.' ""Quite right! And what did he say?"

"Well, he lost his temper; I would rather not repeat what he said when he was mad with jealousy. There was nothing to be done with him but to give him his way.""Give him his way? Does that mean fight a duel with him?""Don't be angry--it does."

"And you kept my name out of it, by pretending to quarrel at the card-table?""Yes. We managed it when the cardroom was emptying at supper-time, and nobody was present but Major Mulvany and another friend as witnesses.""And when did you fight the duel?"

"The next morning."

"You never thought of _me_, I suppose?"