212520_The_Adve ... _Way_Through_The_World.pdf - OUDL Home

78 A SHABBY GENTEEL STORY
" Curse your verses, sir ! liar and forger yourself ! Hare you a
coward as well, sir ? A coward ! yes, I believe you are ; or will you
meet me to-morrow morning like a man, and give me satisfaction for
this hinfamous hinsult ?"
" Sir," said Mr. Brandon, with the utmost stateliness and scorn,
" if you wish to murder me as you do the King's English, I won't
baulk you. Although a man of my rank is not called upon to meet
a blackguard of your condition, I will, nevertheless, grant you your
will. But have a care ; by heavens, I won't spare you, and I can
hit an ace of hearts at twenty paces !"
"Two can play at that," said Mr. Fitch calmly; "and if I
can't hit a hace of 'arts at twenty paces, I can hit a man at twelve,
and to-morrow I'll try." With which, giving Mr. Brandon a look
of the highest contempt, the young painter left the room.
What were Mr. Brandon's thoughts as his antagonist left him ?
Strange to say, rather agreeable. He had much too great a contempt
for Fitch to suppose that so low a fellow would ever think
seriously of fighting him, and reasoned with himself thus :—
" This Fitch, I know, will go off to Caroline, tell her the whole
transaction, frighten her with the tale of a duel, and then she and
I shall have a scene. I will tell her the truth about those infernal
verses, menace death, blood, and danger, and then _______ "
Here he fell back into a charming reverie ; the wily fellow knew
what power such a circumstance would give him over a poor weak
girl, who would do anything rather than that her beloved should
risk his life. And with this dastardly speculation as to the price
he should ask for refraining from meeting Fitch, he was entertaining
himself; when, much to his annoyance, that gentleman again came
into the room.
" Mr. Brandon," said he, " you have insulted me in the grossest
and cruellest way."
" Well, sir, are you come to apologise ?" said Brandon sneeringly.
" No, I'm not come to apologise, Mr. Aristocrat : it's past that.
I'm come to say this, sir, that I take you for a coward ; and that,
unless you will give me your solemn word of honour not to mention
a word of this quarrel to Miss Gann, which might prevent our
meeting, I will never leave you till we do fight !"
" This is outrageous, sir ! Leave the room, or by heavens I'll
not meet you at all !"
"Heasy, sir; easy, I beg your pardon, I can force you to
that !"
" And how, pray, sir ?"
" Why, in the first place, here's a stick, and I'll 'orsewhip you !
and here are a pair of pistols, and we can fight now !"