Early in the morning Hamilton betook himself in quest of the esquire.--Blossom, being informed that a gentleman from young Mr. Mortimer desired to see him, was very little pleased with the message. His courage had in a great degree flowed from the wine which he drank, and as the fumes were now in a considerable degree evaporated, part of the valour had also _oozed_ away. To give it time to return, or to deliberate how it might be unnecessary, he proposed to defer the interview about two hours. Our hero returned at the appointed time, and was introduced to the apartment of Blossom, whom he found sitting with a bandage round his head, which, however, did not so completely cover his face as to prevent it from exhibiting impudence contending with shame and fear. He received Hamilton civilly, and then in a blustering tone proceeded to exclaim against young Mortimer. Hamilton cut him short by telling him, his business was merely to deliver him a letter, and, according to the reply, to add a subsidiary message. The esquire having read the letter; “And so,” says he, “master Mortimer refuses the challenge?” “But,” says Hamilton, “he states his reasons and determination.”--“Pretty reasons: cowardice; don’t you think so, Clump?” turning to his groom, who had continued in the room. “Before,” said our hero, “Mr. Clump has the trouble of delivering his sentiments, I have to ask simply, Will you apologize in the required manner?” “I’ll be d--d if I do.” “That’s right,” said the groom, “don’t be _timbersome_.” “Then I have farther to inform you, that Mr. John Mortimer will, in half an hour, be in the public room, in this inn, to cane you, if you dare appear there; and that he will repeat the same discipline in every public place where you dare appear, to teach you the manners befitting such a person as you, if admitted into the company of ladies and gentlemen.” Having delivered this embassy, our hero departed. Blossom having shut the door assumed a very valiant face, and said to Clump, “Did you ever hear so insolent a fellow as this messenger? Hamilton they call him: it was with difficulty I could keep my passion. Did not you remark how red and angry my face looked?” “No, I thought it was rather pale, please your honour, and whitish as it were.” “But did not you see me even trembling with rage?” “O yes, when he spoke about the cane in the public room, your honour did tremble.” “I think I will run after him yet,” said the esquire, clapping himself on a chair, “to teach him to talk so to a man of my consequence: but now that I think of it, I cannot well go out as my head is tied up. I believe it will be as well to avoid the cold and keep quiet to-day, Clump; I shall not go down stairs.”--Clump, who was his master’s chief confident, and was a sharp fellow, did not fail to perceive the real motive; but professed to acquiesce in the ostensible. Some time afterwards as the esquire was declaring his ardent desire of