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WILD MARGARET. 267
There is a keener joy in the anticipation of success and
victory which the actual success and victory themselves
cannot produce. | In his mind’s eye he saw himself—as he
had pictured to Violet—lying at her feet in some sunny,
vine-clad villa in Spain. Those two by themselves, with
no one to share or dispute his claim to her! With Blair
either dead of Prince Rivani’s rapier thrust, or away in
England with Margaret! Yes, success had come to him at
last. Not only would he have won the woman he loved
with a passion which he had nourished and fostered and
secretly fed during all those long and bitter months, but
he would have secured wealth as well, for he had not man-
aged Blair’s estate for Blair’s benefit alone, but had con-
trived to feather his own nest pretty considerably ; besides,
violet still held her own money, and it would now become
is! .
He was so filled with the ecstasy of anticipation that he
could have stopped on the great staircase, and raised the
house with his exultant laughter, had there not been still
something to do before he could admit that all was ready.
Always looking forward to this supreme moment, he had
arranged with one of the drivers of the pair-horse car-
riages to expect a summons from him, and, slipping on a
cloak, he went out to the corner of the street and gave the
( He was to wait at the corner of the
cathedral until he, Austin Ambrose, arrived with a lady.
The man was then to drive to the station as if for his life,
and regardless of anything. Then he returned to the pal-
“ace, and hastily packed a small portmanteau. He had
scarcely finished it when Blair’s valet knocked at the door,
with General Trelani’s card. ;
Austin Ambrose slipped on a dressing gown over the
traveling suit, for which he had exchanged his other
clothes, and received the general with calm serenity and
dignity. ¥ :
You expected me, doubtless, and I will not detain you
with apologies for the lateness of the hour,” said the gen-
eral, a stiff and soldier-like old man, to whom duels were
very ordinary matters indeed. ‘**T may add that my
principal, Prince Rivani, will not accept an apology.”’
Austin Ambrose bowed. .
“The Earl of Ferrers has no intention of offering one,”’
he said, quietly. © '
‘The general inclined his head.
“As the person challenged, the earl has the choice of
weapons,’”’ he said. .
“Though, like most Englishmen, I. am unfamiliar with
the etiquette of the duello, I am aware of that. Lord
Ferrers chooses swords.”’
}
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