“Beg your pardon, sir,” said the petty officer.
“No matter,” said Hornblower, deep in his thoughts.
He first brought forward his suggestion in conversation with Preston and Danvers, the two master’s mates whom he asked to be his seconds as soon as he returned to the Justinian.
“We’ll act for you, of course,” said Preston, looking dubiously at the weedy youth when he made his request. “How do you want to fight him? As the aggrieved party you have the choice of weapons.”
“I’ve been thinking about it ever since he insulted me,” said Hornblower temporizing. It was not easy to come out with his idea in bald words, after all.
“Have you any skill with the small-sword?” asked Danvers.
“No,” said Hornblower. Truth to tell, he had never even handled one.
“Then it had better be pistols,” said Preston.
“Simpson is probably a good shot,” said Danvers. “I wouldn’t care to stand up before him myself.”
“Easy now,” said Preston hastily. “Don’t dishearten the man.”
“I’m not disheartened,” said Hornblower, “I was thinking the same thing myself.”
“You’re cool enough about it, then,” marvelled Danvers.
Hornblower shrugged.
“Maybe I am. I hardly care. But I’ve thought that we might make the chances more even.”
“How?”
“We could make them exactly even,” said Hornblower, taking the plunge. “Have two pistols, one loaded and the other empty. Simpson and I would take our choice without knowing which was which. Then we stand within a yard of each other, and at the word we fire.”
“My God!” said Danvers.
“I don’t think that would be legal,” said Preston. “It would mean one of you would be killed for certain.”
“Killing is the object of duelling,” said Hornblower. “If the conditions aren’t unfair I don’t think any objection can be raised.”
“But would you carry it out to the end?” marvelled Danvers.
“Mr Danvers —” began Hornblower; but Preston interfered.
“We don’t want another duel on our hands,” he said. “Danvers only meant he wouldn’t care to do it himself. We’ll discuss it with Cleveland and Hether, and see what they say.”
Within an hour the proposed conditions of the duel were known to everyone in the ship. Perhaps it was to Simpson’s disadvantage that he had no real friend in the ship, for Cleveland and Hether, his seconds, were not disposed to take too firm a stand regarding the conditions of the duel, and agreed to the terms with only a show of reluctance. The tyrant of the midshipmen’s berth was paying the penalty for his tyranny. There was some cynical amusement shown by some of the officers; some of both officers and men eyed Hornblower and Simpson with the curiosity that the prospect of death excites in some minds, as if the two destined opponents were men condemned to the gallows. At noon Lieutenant Masters sent for Hornblower.
“The captain has ordered me to make inquiry into this duel, Mr Hornblower,” he said. “I am instructed to use my best endeavours to compose the quarrel.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Why insist on this satisfaction, Mr Hornblower? I understand there were a few hasty words over wine and cards.”
“Mr Simpson accused me of cheating, sir, before witnesses who were not officers of this ship.”
That was the point. The witnesses were not members of the ship’s company. If Hornblower had chosen to disregard Simpson’s words as the ramblings of a drunken ill-tempered man, they might have passed unnoticed. But as he had taken the stand he did, there could be no hushing it up now, and Hornblower knew it.
“Even so, there can be satisfaction without a duel, Mr Hornblower.”
“If Mr Simpson will make me a full apology before the same gentlemen, I would be satisfied, sir.”
Simpson was no coward. He would die rather than submit to such a formal humiliation.
“I see. Now I understand you are insisting on rather unusual conditions for the duel?”
“There are precedents for it, sir. As the insulted party I can choose any conditions which are not unfair.”
“You sound like a sea lawyer to me, Mr Hornblower.”
The hint was sufficient to tell Hornblower that he had verged upon being too glib, and he resolved in future to bridle his tongue. He stood silent and waited for Masters to resume the conversation.