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88 A SHABBY GENTEEL STORY
with whom Mr. Fitch was to go out had been dining at the hotel
the night previous, in company with the little milor, who was to be
his second.
Quick as lightning flew Runt to the chamber of her patroness.
That lady was in a profound sleep ; and I leave you to imagine
what were her sensations on awaking and hearing this dreadful
tale.
Such is the force of love, that although for many years Mrs.
Carrickfergus had never left her bed before noon, although in all
her wild wanderings after the painter she, nevertheless, would have
her tea and cutlet in bed, and her doze likewise, before she set forth
on a journey—she now started up in an instant, forgetting her nap,
mutton-chops, everything, and began dressing with a promptitude
which can only be equalled by Harlequin when disguising himself
in a pantomime. She would have had an attack of nerves, only she
knew there was no time for it ; and I do believe that twenty minutes
were scarcely over her head, as the saying is, when her bonnet and
cloak were on, and with her whole suite, and an inn-waiter or two
whom she pressed into her service, she was on full trot to the field
of action. For twenty years before, and from that day to this,
Marianne Carrickfergus never had or has walked so quickly.
" Hullo, here'th a go !" exclaimed Lord Viscount Cinqbars, as
they arrived on the ground behind the Windmill ; " cuth me, there'th
only one man !"
This was indeed the case ; Mr. Fitch, in his great cloak, was
pacing slowly up and down the grass, his shadow stretching far in
the sunshine. Mr. Fitch was alone too; for the fact is, he had
never thought about a second. This he admitted frankly, bowing
with much majesty to the company as they came up. " But that,
gents," said he, " will make no difference, I hope, nor prevent fair
play from being done." And, flinging off his cloak, he produced
the foils, from which the buttons had been taken off. He went up
to Brandon, and was for offering him one of the weapons, just as
they do at the theatre. Brandon stepped back, rather abashed ;
Cinqbars looked posed ; Tufthunt delighted. " Ecod," said he,
" I hope the bearded fellow will give it him."
" Excuse me, sir," said Mr. Brandon ; " as the challenged party,
I demand pistols."
Mr. Fitch, with great presence of mind and gracefulness, stuck
the swords into the grass.
" Oh, pithtolth of courth," lisped my Lord ; and presently called
aside Tufthunt, to whom he whispered something in great glee ; to
which Tufthunt objected at first, saying, " No, d ______ him, let him