Yellowjack，CommanderJaunders，hasbroughtlettersandpapersfromCoventryIsland。H。E。SirThomasLiverseegehadfallenavictimtotheprevailingfeveratSwampton。Hislossisdeeplyfeltintheflourishingcolony。WehearthattheGovernorshiphasbeenofferedtoColonelRawdonCrawley，C。B。，adistinguishedWaterlooofficer。Weneednotonlymenofacknowledgedbravery，butmenofadministrativetalentstosuperintendtheaffairsofourcolonies，andwehavenodoubtthatthegentlemanselectedbytheColonialOfficetofillthelamentedvacancywhichhasoccurredatCoventryIslandisadmirablycalculatedforthepostwhichheisabouttooccupy。”
“CoventryIsland！Wherewasit？Whohadappointedhimtothegovernment？Youmusttakemeoutasyoursecretary，oldboy。”CaptainMacmurdosaidlaughing；
andasCrawleyandhisfriendsatwonderingandperplexedovertheannouncement，theClubwaiterbroughtintotheColonelacardonwhichthenameofMr。
Wenhamwasengraved，whobeggedtoseeColonelCrawley。
TheColonelandhisaide-de-campwentouttomeetthegentleman，rightlyconjecturingthathewasanemissaryofLordSteyne。”Howd’yedo，Crawley？Iamgladtoseeyou。”saidMr。Wenhamwithablandsmile，andgraspingCrawley’shandwithgreatcordiality。
“Youcome，Isuppose，from——“
“Exactly。”saidMr。Wenham。
“ThenthisismyfriendCaptainMacmurdo，oftheLifeGuardsGreen。”
“DelightedtoknowCaptainMacmurdo，I’msure。”Mr。
Wenhamsaidandtenderedanothersmileandshakeofthehandtothesecond，ashehaddonetotheprincipal。
Macputoutonefinger，armedwithabuckskinglove，andmadeaveryfrigidbowtoMr。Wenhamoverhistightcravat。Hewas，perhaps，discontentedatbeingputincommunicationwithapekin，andthoughtthatLordSteyneshouldhavesenthimaColonelattheveryleast。
“AsMacmurdoactsforme，andknowswhatImean。”
Crawleysaid，“Ihadbetterretireandleaveyoutogether。”
“Ofcourse。”saidMacmurdo。
“Bynomeans，mydearColonel。”Mr。Wenhamsaid；
“theinterviewwhichIhadthehonourofrequestingwaswithyoupersonally，thoughthecompanyofCaptainMacmurdocannotfailtobealsomostpleasing。Infact，Captain，Ihopethatourconversationwillleadtononebutthemostagreeableresults，verydifferentfromthosewhichmyfriendColonelCrawleyappearstoanticipate。”
“Humph！”saidCaptainMacmurdo。Behangedtothesecivilians，hethoughttohimself，theyarealwaysforarrangingandspeechifying。Mr。Wenhamtookachairwhichwasnotofferedtohim——tookapaperfromhispocket，andresumed——
“Youhaveseenthisgratifyingannouncementinthepapersthismorning，Colonel？Governmenthassecuredamostvaluableservant，andyou，ifyouacceptoffice，asIpresumeyouwill，anexcellentappointment。Threethousandayear，delightfulclimate，excellentgovernment-
house，allyourownwayintheColony，andacertainpromotion。Icongratulateyouwithallmyheart。I
presumeyouknow，gentlemen，towhommyfriendisindebtedforthispieceofpatronage？”
“HangedifIknow。”theCaptainsaid；hisprincipalturnedveryred。
“Tooneofthemostgenerousandkindestmenintheworld，asheisoneofthegreatest——tomyexcellentfriend，theMarquisofSteyne。”
“I’llseehimd——beforeItakehisplace。”growledoutRawdon。
“Youareirritatedagainstmynoblefriend。”Mr。
Wenhamcalmlyresumed；“andnow，inthenameofcommonsenseandjustice，tellmewhy？”
“WHY？”criedRawdoninsurprise。
“Why？Dammy！”saidtheCaptain，ringinghisstickontheground。
“Dammy，indeed。”saidMr。Wenhamwiththemostagreeablesmile；“still，lookatthematterasamanoftheworld——asanhonestman——andseeifyouhavenotbeeninthewrong。Youcomehomefromajourney，andfind——what？——myLordSteynesuppingatyourhouseinCurzonStreetwithMrs。Crawley。Isthecircumstancestrangeornovel？Hashenotbeenahundredtimesbeforeinthesameposition？Uponmyhonourandwordasagentleman“——Mr。Wenhamhereputhishandonhiswaistcoatwithaparliamentaryair——“IdeclareIthinkthatyoursuspicionsaremonstrousandutterlyunfounded，andthattheyinjureanhonourablegentlemanwhohasprovedhisgood-willtowardsyoubyathousandbenefactions——andamostspotlessandinnocentlady。”
“Youdon’tmeantosaythat——thatCrawley’smistaken？”saidMr。Macmurdo。
“IbelievethatMrs。Crawleyisasinnocentasmywife，Mrs。Wenham。”Mr。Wenhamsaidwithgreatenergy。”Ibelievethat，misledbyaninfernaljealousy，myfriendherestrikesablowagainstnotonlyaninfirmandoldmanofhighstation，hisconstantfriendandbenefactor，butagainsthiswife，hisowndearesthonour，hisson’sfuturereputation，andhisownprospectsinlife。”
“Iwilltellyouwhathappened。”Mr。Wenhamcontinuedwithgreatsolemnity；“IwassentforthismorningbymyLordSteyne，andfoundhiminapitiablestate，as，IneedhardlyinformColonelCrawley，anymanofageandinfirmitywouldbeafterapersonalconflictwithamanofyourstrength。Isaytoyourface；itwasacrueladvantageyoutookofthatstrength，ColonelCrawley。Itwasnotonlythebodyofmynobleandexcellentfriendwhichwaswounded——hisheart，sir，wasbleeding。Amanwhomhehadloadedwithbenefitsandregardedwithaffectionhadsubjectedhimtothefoulestindignity。Whatwasthisveryappointment，whichappearsinthejournalsofto-day，butaproofofhiskindnesstoyou？WhenIsawhisLordshipthismorningIfoundhiminastatepitiableindeedtosee，andasanxiousasyouaretorevengetheoutragecommitteduponhim，byblood。Youknowhehasgivenhisproofs，Ipresume，ColonelCrawley？”
“Hehasplentyofpluck。”saidtheColonel。”Nobodyeversaidhehadn’t。”
“Hisfirstordertomewastowritealetterofchallenge，andtocarryittoColonelCrawley。Oneorotherofus。”hesaid，“mustnotsurvivetheoutrageoflastnight。”
Crawleynodded。”You’recomingtothepoint，Wenham。”hesaid。
“ItriedmyutmosttocalmLordSteyne。GoodGod！
sir。”Isaid，“howIregretthatMrs。WenhamandmyselfhadnotacceptedMrs。Crawley’sinvitationtosupwithher！”
“Sheaskedyoutosupwithher？”CaptainMacmurdosaid。
“Aftertheopera。Here’sthenoteofinvitation——stop——no，thisisanotherpaper——IthoughtIhadh，butit’sofnoconsequence，andIpledgeyoumywordtothefact。Ifwehadcome——anditwasonlyoneofMrs。
Wenham’sheadacheswhichpreventedus——shesuffersunderthemagooddeal，especiallyinthespring——ifwehadcome，andyouhadreturnedhome，therewouldhavebeennoquarrel，noinsult，nosuspicion——andsoitispositivelybecausemypoorwifehasaheadachethatyouaretobringdeathdownupontwomenofhonourandplungetwoofthemostexcellentandancientfamiliesinthekingdomintodisgraceandsorrow。”
Mr。Macmurdolookedathisprincipalwiththeairofamanprofoundlypuzzled，andRawdonfeltwithakindofragethathispreywasescapinghim。Hedidnotbelieveawordofthestory，andyet，howdiscreditordisproveit？
Mr。Wenhamcontinuedwiththesamefluentoratory，whichinhisplaceinParliamenthehadsooftenpractised——“IsatforanhourormorebyLordSteyne’sbedside，beseeching，imploringLordSteynetoforegohisintentionofdemandingameeting。Ipointedouttohimthatthecircumstanceswereafterallsuspicious——theyweresuspicious。Iacknowledgeit——anymaninyourpositionmighthavebeentakenin——Isaidthatamanfuriouswithjealousyistoallintentsandpurposesamadman，andshouldbeassuchregarded——thataduelbetweenyoumustleadtothedisgraceofallpartiesconcerned——thatamanofhisLordship’sexaltedstationhadnorightinthesedays，whenthemostatrociousrevolutionaryprinciples，andthemostdangerouslevellingdoctrinesarepreachedamongthevulgar，tocreateapublicscandal；andthat，howeverinnocent，thecommonpeoplewouldinsistthathewasguilty。Infine，I
imploredhimnottosendthechallenge。”
“Idon’tbelieveonewordofthewholestory。”saidRawdon，grindinghisteeth。”Ibelieveitad——lie，andthatyou’reinit，Mr。Wenham。Ifthechallengedon’tcomefromhim，byJoveitshallcomefromme。”
Mr。WenhamturneddeadlypaleatthissavageinterruptionoftheColonelandlookedtowardsthedoor。
ButhefoundachampioninCaptainMacmurdo。ThatgentlemanroseupwithanoathandrebukedRawdonforhislanguage。”Youputtheaffairintomyhands，andyoushallactasIthinkfit，byJove，andnotasyoudo。
YouhavenorighttoinsultMr。Wenhamwiththissortoflanguage；anddammy，Mr。Wenham，youdeserveanapology。AndasforachallengetoLordSteyne，youmaygetsomebodyelsetocarryit，Iwon’t。Ifmylord，afterbeingthrashed，choosestositstill，dammylethim。
Andasfortheaffairwith——withMrs。Crawley，mybeliefis，there’snothingprovedatall：thatyourwife’sinnocent，asinnocentasMr。Wenhamsayssheis；andatanyratethatyouwouldbead——foolnottotaketheplaceandholdyourtongue。”
“CaptainMacmurdo，youspeaklikeamanofsense。”
Mr。Wenhamcriedout，immenselyrelieved——“IforgetanywordsthatColonelCrawleyhasusedintheirritationofthemoment。”
“Ithoughtyouwould。”Rawdonsaidwithasneer。
“Shutyourmouth，youoldstoopid。”theCaptainsaidgood-naturedly。”Mr。Wenhamain’tafightingman；andquiteright，too。”
“Thismatter，inmybelief。”theSteyneemissarycried。”oughttobeburiedinthemostprofoundoblivion。A
wordconcerningitshouldneverpassthesedoors。I
speakintheinterestofmyfriend，aswellasofColonelCrawley，whopersistsinconsideringmehisenemy。”
“IsupposeLordSteynewon’ttalkaboutitverymuch。”saidCaptainMacmurdo；“andIdon’tseewhyoursideshould。Theaffairain’taveryprettyone，anywayyoutakeit，andthelesssaidaboutitthebetter。
It’syouarethrashed，andnotus；andifyouaresatisfied，why，Ithink，weshouldbe。”
Mr。Wenhamtookhishat，uponthis，andCaptainMacmurdofollowinghimtothedoor，shutituponhimselfandLordSteyne’sagent，leavingRawdonchafingwithin。Whenthetwowereontheotherside，Macmurdolookedhardattheotherambassadorandwithanexpressionofanythingbutrespectonhisroundjollyface。
“Youdon’tstickatatrifle，Mr。Wenham。”hesaid。
“Youflatterme，CaptainMacmurdo。”answeredtheotherwithasmile。”Uponmyhonourandconsciencenow，Mrs。Crawleydidaskustosupaftertheopera。”
“Ofcourse；andMrs。Wenhamhadoneofherhead-
aches。Isay，I’vegotathousand-poundnotehere，whichIwillgiveyouifyouwillgivemeareceipt，please；andIwillputthenoteupinanenvelopeforLordSteyne。
Mymanshan’tfighthim。Butwehadrathernottakehismoney。”
“Itwasallamistake——allamistake，mydearsir。”theothersaidwiththeutmostinnocenceofmanner；andwasboweddowntheClubstepsbyCaptainMacmurdo，justasSirPittCrawleyascendedthem。Therewasaslightacquaintancebetweenthesetwogentlemen，andtheCaptain，goingbackwiththeBaronettotheroomwherethelatter’sbrotherwas，toldSirPitt，inconfidence，thathehadmadetheaffairallrightbetweenLordSteyneandtheColonel。
SirPittwaswellpleased，ofcourse，atthisintelligence，andcongratulatedhisbrotherwarmlyuponthepeacefulissueoftheaffair，makingappropriatemoralremarksupontheevilsofduellingandtheunsatisfactorynatureofthatsortofsettlementofdisputes。
Andafterthispreface，hetriedwithallhiseloquencetoeffectareconciliationbetweenRawdonandhiswife。
HerecapitulatedthestatementswhichBeckyhadmade，pointedouttheprobabilitiesoftheirtruth，andassertedhisownfirmbeliefinherinnocence。
ButRawdonwouldnothearofit。”Shehaskepmoneyconcealedfrommethesetenyears。”hesaid“Sheswore，lastnightonly，shehadnonefromSteyne。Sheknewitwasallup，directlyIfoundit。Ifshe’snotguilty，Pitt，she’sasbadasguilty，andI’llneverseeheragain——
never。”Hisheadsankdownonhischestashespokethewords，andhelookedquitebrokenandsad。