No one in the group moved, and the little boy ran toward Mathews with outstretched arms. He had almost reached him before Mathews had recovered from the astonishment that had left his face pale. He stepped back, saying:
"Take the brat away! What demon brought him hither? Take him away, I say, before I do him a hurt."
"'Tis not a demon that brings the like of that to men," said O'Teague. Then, putting out his hands to the little boy, he cried, "Come hither, my little man, and tell us what is your name."
The child stopped and gazed with wondering eyes at Major O'Teague, who was kneeling on one knee, with inviting hands stretched forth.
"Mammy said for I to run to daddy," lisped the little fellow, and he looked round, putting a tiny thumb in his mouth.
"Take the brat away, or I shall do it a hurt," shouted Mathews.
The child shrank back, and a frightened look came to his face.
"I'se good to-day, pappy," he said. "I'se very good. I'se did what mammy told. She said, 'Go to pappy,' and I'se goed."
Mathews, his hands clenched, took a step in the direction of Mr. Long, and Dick took a step in the direction of Mathews.
"Coward!" said the last named. "Coward! this is how you would shirk the fight that you owe me. You have brought them here."
"Yes, I brought them here--all your family," said Mr. Long. "And--yes, I own to being a coward; I own that I shrink from standing up with a deadly weapon in my hand before the husband of an estimable lady and the father of an innocent child. Captain Mathews, you are aware of the fact that I am acquainted with some compromising incidents in your past life. I do not wish you ill, sir. I implore of you to be advised in time. Return to your home, and make an honest attempt to redeem the past."
"I will--I will--when I have seen you lying dead at my feet," said Mathews. Then, turning to the others of the party, he cried: "Gentlemen, are we here to be made fools of? Let the affair proceed, or let Mr. Long and his friend make up their minds to be branded in public as cowards and poltroons."
"Major O'Teague," said Dick, "you cannot possibly have known that Captain Mathews, while professing honourable intentions in regard to a lady in Bath, was all the time a married man?"