Ole Devil at San Jacinto (Old Devil Hardin Western Book 4) by J.T. Edson Page A

spare
for meeting you before I leave. So, unless you have any objections, now is satisfactory
for me.’
    ‘ B —But—!’ Dumoulin spluttered.
    ‘ Being the challenged
party, I believe the choice of weapons is mine,’ Ole Devil
continued remorselessly, showing no sign of having heard the
interruption or noticing the youngster’s growing perturbation. ‘I
choose pistols —‘
    ‘ Excuse
me, Cap— M’sieur Hardin,’ Dumoulin interrupted, seeing hope of gaining a
respite. ‘Under the circumstances, our affair must proceed
according to the accepted conventions. Your choice must be
communicated by your seconds.’
    ‘ That is
correct, m’sieur ,’ Ole Devil admitted. He saw Jaloux and Pierre-Quint look
annoyed. He looked past them and went on, ‘Will you oblige by
acting for me. Captain Hallistead?’
    ‘ Certainly, Captain
Hardin, ’ replied a well modulated and cultured voice with the
carrying resonance of one who was used to speaking in public and
making himself heard.
    Looking over their shoulders,
the Creoles studied the speaker as he strolled from the front door of
the hotel. There was something flamboyant, almost theatrical, about
his tall beaver hat and well cut riding clothes. If Jaloux and
Pierre-Quint had been more observant, they would have remembered
that he was present during the earlier contretemps . He had, in fact, prevented another
of the onlookers from making a comment which could have ruined Ole
Devil’s plan. The trio regarded him with different feelings. To the
injured young men, he offered a means of obtaining revenge.
Dumoulin saw him as an interfering busybody.
    ‘ Gentlemen,’ Ole Devil said. ‘May I
present Captain Mangrove Hallistead of General Houston’s
staff.’
    ‘ Who else is acting for you?’ Dumoulin
inquired, before the introduction could be acknowledged.
    ‘ My companion,’ the Texian replied,
indicating Tommy Okasi.
    ‘ Your companion ?’ the youngster repeated, darting a look at the little
Oriental and, in spite of their eagerness to bring about the duel,
the other two Creoles showed a similar surprise. ‘But he’s only a Chinaman— !’
    ‘ Japanese,’ Hallistead
corrected, before Ole Devil could do so . ‘An Oriental race, true, but
in no way contiguous with the Celestial Empire of Ancient Cathay.
Furthermore, in his native land, Mr. Okasi is what is termed
a Samurai. They are an elite warrior class and of the lower nobility.
By our standards, his rank would be that of baronet. In fact,
gentlemen, as this is the case, he will have to waive the question
of his birthright if he is willing to act for Captain
Hardin.’
    Such was the magnificent
authority with which the pronouncement was made that the Creoles were visibly
impressed. All of them had heard of Mangrove Hallistead. Prior to
his departure for Texas, he had appeared with resounding success at
the best theaters in every major city of the United States. Such
was the fame he had achieved that, notwithstanding the general
reluctance shown by many wealthy families to accept members of the
theatrical profession as social equals, he had had entry to the
majority of influential households on both sides of the Mason-Dixon
line. xv
    One of the conventions for the conducting of
a duel required that the seconds were of equal status in society
with the principals they were to attend. However, provided a man
was willing to waive the question of his rank, he could act for a
friend of lower social standing.
    Bearing in mind who they were
dealing with, the Creoles— particularly Jaloux and Pierre-Quint—were willing to
concede Hallistead’s point regarding the eligibility of Tommy Okasi
acting as the Texian’s second. While Dumoulin wanted to protest, he
believed such an act would make the men around him think he was
afraid. So he kept silent and allowed his companions to continue
with the arrangements.
    ‘ Very well, sir,’
Pierre-Quint said, glancing at and receiving a confirmatory nod
from Jaloux, but not