That he was present to-night was entirely due to the fact that having made a short cut to the kitchen door in order to hurry some dishes, he had by the merest chance, and at the precise psychological moment, run bump up against the warlike party just before they had reached the duelling ground.

This was a well-lighted path but a stone's throw from the porch, and sufficiently hidden by shrubbery to be out of sight of the ballroom windows.
The next moment the old man was in full cry to the house.

He had heard the beginning of the trouble while he was carrying out St.George's orders regarding the two half-emptied bowls of punch and understood exactly what was going to happen, and why.
"Got de colonel's pistols!" he choked as he sped along the gravel walk toward the front door the quicker to reach the ballroom--"and Marse Harry nothin' but a baby! Gor-a-Mighty! Gor-a-Mighty!" Had they all been grown-ups he might not have minded--but his "Marse Harry," the child he brought up, his idol--his chum!--"Fo' Gawd, dey sha'n't kill 'im--dey sha'n't!--DEY SHA'N'T!!" He had reached the porch now, swung back the door, and with a sudden spring--it was wonderful how quick he moved--had dashed into the ballroom, now a maze of whirling figures--a polka having struck up to keep everybody occupied until the reel was finally made up.
"Marse Talbot!--Marse Talbot!" All domestic training was cast aside, not a moment could be lost--"All on ye!--dey's murder outside--somebody go git de colonel!--Oh, Gawd!--somebody git 'im quick!" Few heard him and nobody paid any attention to his entreaties; nor could anybody, when they did listen, understand what he wanted--the men swearing under their breath, the girls indignant that he had blocked their way.

Mrs.Rutter, who had seen his in-rush, sat aghast.

Had Alec, too, given way, she wondered--old Alec who had had full charge of the wine cellar for years! But the old man pressed on, still shouting, his voice almost gone, his eyes bursting from his head.
"Dey's gwineter murder Marse Harry--I seen 'em! Oh!--whar's de colonel! Won't somebody please--Oh, my Gawd!--dis is awful! Don't I tell ye dey's gwineter kill Marse Harry!" Mrs.Cheston, sitting beside Kate, was the only one who seemed to understand.
"Alec!" she called in her imperious voice--"Alec!--come to me at once! What is the matter ?" The old butler shambled forward and stood trembling, the tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Yes, mum--I'm yere! Oh, can't ye git de colonel--ain't nobody else'll do--" "Is it a duel ?" "Yes, mum! I jes' done see 'em! Dey's gwineter kill my Marse Harry!" Kate sprang up.