"
The men stared. This was a turn in the affair they had not anticipated,
but they were evidently prepared to meet the emergency.
"Who will act as this fellow's second?" asked Girard.
"You need not trouble yourselves, gentlemen."
"Oh, no, you must have a second. Although you are not entitled to any
consideration this affair shall be conducted as though you were really a
gentleman. Thatford, will you act as the fellow's second?"
"I must respectfully decline," said Thatford. "I am not acting as second
in an affair of honor for a low-bred spy and sneak."
The lackey meantime had prepared himself for the affray, and Girard had
produced two dueling swords. It looked serious indeed, but there was
also an element of farce in the whole affair.
"I will excuse Mr. Thatford from acting as my second."
"Will you accept me?" demanded Girard.
"No, I will not accept you. I anticipated that you fellows might be
part of a gang of thieves and I prepared to meet you. No, no, gentlemen,
you have not got this all your own way. I do not propose to be murdered
like a caged rat, I assure you."
The men glared. There had come a complete change over our hero, and
indeed Oscar had laid out his whole campaign.
"You fellows are thieves," he said, "thieves and murderers.
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