But by a tremendous effort he mastered himself.

A duel! it was more than a delay; it was perhaps the failure of his mission.

It would be better to lose some hours.

Yes; but to swallow this affront! "Will you fight now, coward ?" repeated the traveler, adding coarseness to brutality.
"No," answered Michael, without moving, but looking the other straight in the face.
"The horses this moment," said the man, and left the room.
The postmaster followed him, after shrugging his shoulders and bestowing on Michael a glance of anything but approbation.
The effect produced on the reporters by this incident was not to Michael's advantage.

Their discomfiture was visible.