Under the circumstances, a duel is an absurdity." "An absurdity ?" Cleggett, with his hands on his hips, and a little dancing light in his eyes, faced the great detective squarely.

"You permit yourself very peculiar expressions, Mr.Barnstable!" "I beg your pardon," said Wilton Barnstable.

"I withdraw 'absurdity.' But you must see yourself, Mr.Cleggett, that a duel is useless, if nothing else.

The man is our prisoner.

He belongs to the law." Loge had struggled to a sitting posture, his back against the port bulwark, and was listening with an odd look on his face.
"The law ?" said Cleggett.