"But I will dwell no longer on the probable consequences of your meditated deed. You were, no doubt, prepared to meet all the contingencies, to bear all the penalties. I will drop that part of the subject, and only revert to the first great argument against dueling--its flagrant disregard and defiance of the laws of God and man.
"And now, Leonidas Force, I shall require you to give bonds to the amount of ten thousand dollars to keep the peace."
"Will you receive my own for that sum, sir?" inquired the young man.
"Certainly," said the squire. And then, turning to the second offender, he said:
"Mr. Roland Bayard, I shall require you to give bonds for one thousand dollars to keep the peace."
"The Lord only knows where I am to pick up that sum. I reckon you'll have to send me to prison in default of bail, squire."
"No, you needn't, squire. I'm assessed for fourteen thousand dollars, and so I reckon you may take me as his bail for one thousand, mayn't you?" inquired Miss Sibby, rising from her chair and leaning over the table.
The good magistrate had so little call to exercise his office in his peaceful neighborhood that he never required the services of a clerk, and did not possess one. He quickly drew up the necessary papers, had them signed and sealed, locked them in his desk, and discharged the prisoners in a very unmagisterial manner.
"And now, my young friends, let us forget this unpleasant scene, while you both stay and dine with us."
"Go, now, young gentlemen, into Mrs. Force's sitting room, and pay your respects to the ladies there. They know nothing whatever of the affair that brought you here to-day; nor do I wish them to know it. You are our guests for the day. That is all," said the squire, in dismissing the youths.
"I cannot express to you, Miss Bayard, the obligation I feel under for your wise and prompt action in this matter. But for you much misery might have ensued."
"Lord, squire, I did no more than what might have been expected of me--one of my descent!" complacently replied Miss Sibby, as she bowed and sailed out of the office.
"To be sure! To be sure!" assented the amiable master of Mondreer.
"I wonder," whispered Leonidas Force, as he linked his arm in that of Roland Bayard, and they passed along the hall together, "I do wonder if it is characteristic of a lady of high descent to open the envelope of a letter left on her mantelpiece and take out the letter? I wonder, further, if it were not a breach of the law, and what the lawyers call 'actionable'?"