"I'll pay you for that, you meddling beef-eater!" he roared.
"Don't mention it," said I, with an assumption of blandness which I did
not feel. "That was simply gratuitous. It is a sample of what I shall
do to you if you do not immediately ask this lady's pardon for the
gross insult you have just offered her."
"Insult! To kiss a common barmaid an insult!" he yelled, now purpling.
"Why--why--what is this woman to you--this tavern wench, this--"
"Be careful," I warned.
Gretchen was calmly wiping her cheek; but her eyes were like polished
emeralds.
"You came here, I believe," said I, "to see if my passports were
proper."
"Damn you and your passports! Are you a gentleman?"
"Would you recognize one if you saw him?" I laughed.
"Can you fight?"
"Certainly," said I, thinking of the weapons nature in her kindness had
given to me.
"Good! Otto, have the horses brought around. We will cut for the
barracks and get the colonel's weapons--the rapiers."
The word "rapier" sent an icy chill up my spine. A duel!
"The devil!" said I, under my breath. I knew less about fencing than I
did about aerial navigation, which was precious little. The fact that
Gretchen was now smiling aggravated the situation. I could not help
the shudder. Why, the fellow would make a sieve out of me!
"Will you look at my passports now?" I asked. "You may not have the
opportunity again."
"Your passports from now on will be void," was the retort. "But I
shall be pleased to give you a passport to the devil. I shall kill
you," complacently.
"Think of my family," said I, a strange humor taking possession of me.
"You should have thought of your family before you struck me that
blow," he replied.
My laughter was genuine; even Gretchen smuggled a smile. The
lieutenant had taken my remark in all seriousness.
"You will not run away?" he asked.
"I shall probably be obliged to run away to-morrow," said I, smoothly.
"I should not be able to account for your presence here. But I shall
await your return from the barracks, never fear." All this was mere
bravado; honestly, I shrunk within my clothes and shivered in my shoes.
But I had an unfailing mental nerve. Some call it bluff.
Gretchen had been whispering to the innkeeper. When he moved from her
side, she was smiling.