The colonel, with the same deliberation, opened the second letter. It
was addressed to Judge Kerfoot, informing him of the nature of the
"crisis," and notifying him of his (the colonel's) intention to appoint
him sole executor of his estate should fate provide that vacancy.
The third was a telegram to Major Yancey summoning him at once "to
duty on the field in an affair of honor."
"I am aware, Fitz, that some secrecy must be preserved in an affair
of this kind Nawth--quite diffe'ent from our own county, and"--
"Secrecy! Secrecy! With that bellowing Klutchem? Don't you know that
that idiot will have it all over the Street by nine o'clock to-morrow,
unless he is ass enough to get scared, get out a warrant, and clap you
into the Tombs before breakfast? O Colonel! How _could_ you do a thing
like this without letting us know?"
The colonel never changed a muscle in his face. He was courteous, even
patient with Fitz, now really alarmed over the consequences of what
he considered a most stupendous piece of folly.
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