This alternative was one not to be thought of; and it need scarcely be said that the young fire-eaters chose rather to fight again than be cashiered. The duel was fought again, and this time Lord Vellum was shot through the body—a wound which laid him on a sick-bed for two months.
During this long period many quarrels had taken place at the mess-table, some of which had been settled by the colonel acting as ‘arbitrator;’ and others stood over for his permission to fight—a permission which he refused to grant until the result of Lord Vellum’s illness should become known. In the meantime Colonel A—— had communicated with the Duke of Wellington, from whom he received explicit instructions to carry the matter out to the bitter end, as the only means of putting a stop to a matter which was fast becoming a world-wide scandal.
Lord Vellum was carefully attended to during his illness by his ‘friend and enemy’ Ensign Warbottle, to whose efforts he not only owed his life, but was enabled at the end of the two months to take a short walk every morning. His recovery then proceeded rapidly, and he soon became enabled to walk without any support whatever.
The two friends were walking together one morning, when they suddenly found themselves face to face with Colonel A——.
‘Ah, gentlemen, good-morning!’ exclaimed the latter. ‘I am delighted to see his lordship out again, especially as it will now enable you to finish your _affaire d’honneur_ in a more satisfactory manner.’
The young officers, scarcely believing their own ears, were for a time struck dumb with astonishment, and they gazed at each other and at the colonel with looks of bewilderment and despair.
‘You see, gentlemen,’ said the colonel gravely, ‘that this question of the Life Guards’ helmets is of such importance that I deemed it advisable, since his lordship’s illness, to write to the Duke of Wellington on the subject; and I have here His Grace’s orders that the duel should be renewed again and again until the life of one of the combatants has been forfeited.’ As he spoke, Colonel A—— drew from the breast-pocket of his coatee a large letter, bearing on its envelope the words ‘On His Majesty’s Service’ in large black letters, and in one corner the notice in red ink, ‘Very Urgent.’