AFTER passing a sleepless night, and hearing the clock strike six,
Jerome took from his table a book, and thus endeavored to pass
away the hours before breakfast-time. While thus engaged, a
servant entered and handed him a note. Hastily tearing it open,
Jerome read as follows:--
"Sir,--I owe you an apology for the abrupt manner in which I
addressed you last evening, and the inconvenience to which you
were subjected by some of my household. If you will honor us with
your presence to-day at four o'clock, I shall be most happy to
give you due satisfaction. My servant will be waiting with the
carriage at half-past three.
I am, sir, yours, &c, J.DEVENANT.
JEROME FLETCHER, Esq."
Who this gentleman was, and how he had found out his name and the
hotel at which he was stopping, were alike mysteries to Jerome.
And this note seemed to his puzzled brain like a challenge.
"Satisfaction?" He had not asked for satisfaction. However, he
resolved to accept the invitation, and, if need be, meet the
worst. At any rate, this most mysterious and complicated affair
would be explained.
The clock on a neighboring church had scarcely finished striking
three when a servant announced to Jerome that a carriage had
called for him. In a few minutes, he was seated in a sumptuous
barouche, drawn by a pair of beautiful iron-grays, and rolling
over a splendid gravel road entirely shaded by trees, which
appeared to have been the accumulated growth of many centuries.
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