I took it from the point of that worthy's rapier. It ran thus: "SIR,--At what hour to-morrow and at what place do you prefer to die? And with what weapon shall I kill you?"
"Captain Percy will give me credit for the profound reluctance with which I act in this affair against a gentleman and an officer so high in the esteem of the colony," said Master Pory, with his hand upon his heart. "When I tell him that I once fought at Paris in a duel of six on the same side with my late Lord Carnal, and that when I was last at court my Lord Warwick did me the honor to present me to the present lord, he will see that I could not well refuse when the latter requested my aid."
"Master Pory's disinterestedness is perfectly well known," I said, without a smile. "If he ever chooses the stronger side, sure he has strong reasons for so doing. He will oblige me by telling his principal that I ever thought sunrise a pleasant hour for dying, and that there could be no fitter place than the field behind the church, convenient as it is to the graveyard. As for weapons, I have heard that he is a good swordsman, but I have some little reputation that way myself. If he prefers pistols or daggers, so be it."
"I think we may assume the sword," said Master Pory.
I bowed.
"You'll bring a friend?" he asked.
"I do not despair of finding one," I answered, "though my second, Master Secretary, will put himself in some jeopardy."
"It is combat... outrance, I believe?"
"I understand it so."
"Then we'd better have Bohun. The survivor may need his services."
"As you please," I replied, "though my man Diccon dresses my scratches well enough."
He bit his lip, but could not hide the twinkle in his eye.
"You are cocksure," he said. "Curiously enough, so is my lord. There are no further formalities to adjust, I believe? To-morrow at sunrise, behind the church, and with rapiers?"
"Precisely."
He slapped his blade back into its sheath. "Then that's over and done with, for the nonce at least! Sufficient unto the day, etcetera. 'S life! I'm hot and dry! You've sacked cities, Ralph Percy; now sack me the minister's closet and bring out his sherris I'll be at charges for the next communion."
We sat us down upon the doorstep with a tankard of sack between us, and Master Pory drank, and drank, and drank again.
"How's the crop?" he asked. "Martin reports it poorer in quality than ever, but Sir George will have it that it is very Varinas."