"Mr.Cleggett," he said, "I scarcely understand you.Are you consenting to fight this man?""Certainly," said Cleggett."He has challenged me." "A duel?" said Wilton Barnstable in astonishment."A duel.""But that is impossible.His life is forfeit to the law.I hope, before the year is out, to send him to the electric chair.Under the circumstances, a duel is an absurdity.""An absurdity?" Cleggett, with his hands on his hips, and a little dancing light in his eyes, faced the great detective squarely."You permit yourself very peculiar expressions, Mr.Barnstable!""I beg your pardon," said Wilton Barnstable."I withdraw 'absurdity.' But you must see yourself, Mr.Cleggett, that a duel is useless, if nothing else.The man is our prisoner.He belongs to the law."Loge had struggled to a sitting posture, his back against the port bulwark, and was listening with an odd look on his face.
"The law?" said Cleggett."I suppose, in one sense, that is true.But the matter has its personal element as well.""I must insist," said Wilton Barnstable, "that Logan Black is my prisoner."Cleggett was silent a moment.Then he said firmly: "Mr.Barnstable, it is painful to me to have to remind you of it, but your attitude forces me to an equal directness.The fact that Logan Black is now a captive is due to his efforts to recover certain evidence which may be used against him.This evidence I discovered and defended, and this evidence I now hold in my possession."Wilton Barnstable was about to retort, perhaps heatedly, but Cleggett, generous even while determined to have his own way, hastened to add: "Do not think, Mr.Barnstable, that I minimize your work, or your assistance--but, after all, what am I demanding that is unreasonable? If Logan Black dies by my hand, are not the ends of justice served as well asif he died in the electric chair?And if I fall, the law may still take its course."Loge had listened to this speech attentively.He lifted his head and glanced about the deck, filling his lungs with a deep draft of air.Something like a gleam of hope was visible in his features.
"It is irregular," said Wilton Barnstable, frowning, and not half convinced."And, in the name of Heaven, why imperil your life needlessly? Why expose yourself again to the power of this monstrous criminal?""The fellow has challenged me, and I have granted him a meeting," said Cleggett."I hope there is such a thing as honor!""Clement!" It was Lady Agatha who spoke.As she did so she laid her hand on Cleggett's arm.She had hearkened in silence to the colloquy between him and Barnstable, as had the others.She drew him out of sight and hearing behind the cabin.""Clement," she said with agitation, "do not fight this man!""I must," he said simply.It cut him to the heart to refuse the first request that she had asked of him since his avowal of his love for her and her tacit acceptance.But, to a man of Cleggett's ideas, there was no choice.
"Clement," she said in a low tone, "you have told me that you love me.""Agatha!" he murmured brokenly.
"And you know--" she paused, as if she could not continue, but her eyes and manner spoke the rest.In a moment her lips spoke it too; she was not the sort of woman who is afraid to avow the promptings of her heart."You know," she said, "that I love you.""Agatha!" he cried again.He could say no more.
