The secrecy enjoined upon everybody conversant with the happenings at Moorlands did not last many hours.

At the club, across dinner tables, at tea, on the street, and in the libraries of Kennedy Square, each detail was gone over, each motive discussed.

None of the facts were exaggerated, nor was the gravity of the situation lightly dismissed.
Duels were not so common as to blunt the sensibilities.

On the contrary, they had begun to be generally deplored and condemned, a fact largely due to the bitterness resulting from a famous encounter which had taken place a year or so before between young Mr.Cocheran, the son of a rich landowner, and Mr.May--the circumstances being somewhat similar, the misunderstanding having arisen at a ball in Washington over a reigning belle, during which Mr.May had thrown his card in Cocheran's face.

In this instance all the requirements of the code were complied with.
The duel was fought in an open space behind Nelson's Hotel, near the Capitol, Mr.Cocheran arriving at half-past five in the morning in a magnificent coach drawn by four white horses, his antagonist reaching the grounds in an ordinary conveyance, the seconds and the two surgeons on horseback.