You have just been impudent to this new peer. A monster, certainly; but

a monster given up to beasts. I had rather be that man than you. I was

present at the sitting, in my place as a possible heir to a peerage. I

heard all. I have not the right to speak; but I have the right to be a

gentleman. Your jeering airs annoyed me. When I am angry I would go up

to Mount Pendlehill, and pick the cloudberry which brings the

thunderbolt down on the gatherer. That is the reason why I have waited

for you at the door. We must have a few words, for we have arrangements

to make. Did it strike you that you failed a little in respect towards

myself? My lords, I entertain a firm determination to kill a few of you.

All you who are here--Thomas Tufton, Earl of Thanet; Savage, Earl

Rivers; Charles Spencer, Earl of Sunderland; Laurence Hyde, Earl of

Rochester; you Barons, Gray of Rolleston, Cary Hunsdon, Escrick,

Rockingham, little Carteret; Robert Darcy, Earl of Holderness; William,

Viscount Hutton; and Ralph, Duke of Montagu; and any who choose--I,

David Dirry-Moir, an officer of the fleet, summon, call, and command you

to provide yourselves, in all haste, with seconds and umpires, and I

will meet you face to face and hand to hand, to-night, at once,

to-morrow, by day or night, by sunlight or by candlelight, where, when,

or how you please, so long as there is two sword-lengths' space; and you

will do well to look to the flints of your pistols and the edges of your

rapiers, for it is my firm intention to cause vacancies in your

peerages.--Ogle Cavendish, take your measures, and think of your motto,

Cavendo tutus.--Marmaduke Langdale, you will do well, like your

ancestor, Grindold, to order a coffin to be brought with you.--George

Booth, Earl of Warrington, you will never again see the County Palatine

of Chester, or your labyrinth like that of Crete, or the high towers of

870

The Man Who Laughs