"From a gentleman coming from your side of St George's Channel, the question is somewhat singular," observed he, with a sneer. "Oh, I perceive," said I; "your Lordship means a duel." He bowed, and I went on: "Very well; I'm quite ready, whenever and wherever you please; and if your friend should n't make the arrangement inconvenient, it would be a great honor to me to exchange a shot with your Lordship afterwards. I have no friend by me, it is true; but maybe the landlord would oblige me so far, and I 'm sure you 'll not refuse me a pistol." "As regards your polite attentions to myself, sir, I have but to say I accept them; at the same time, I fear you are paying me a French compliment. It is not a case for a formal exchange of shots; so long as Hampton lives, you can never leave the ground alive!" "Then the best thing I can do is to shoot him," said I; and whether the speech was an unfeeling one, or the way I said it was bloodthirsty, but he certainly looked anything but easy in his mind. "The sooner we settle the affair the better, sir," said he, haughtily. "I think so, too, my Lord." "With whom can I, then, communicate on your part?" "I 'll ask the landlord, and if he declines, I 'll try the little barber on the Platz." "I must say, sir, it is the first time in my life I find myself in such company. Have you no countryman of your acquaintance within a reasonable distance?" "If Lord George Tiverton were here--" "If he were, sir, he could not act for you,--he is the near relative of my friend." I thought of everybody I could remember; but what was the use of it? I couldn't reach any of them, and so I was obliged to own. He seemed to ponder over this for some time, and then said,-- "The matter requires some consideration, sir. When the unhappy result gets abroad in the world, it is necessary that nothing should attach to us as men of honor and gentlemen. Your friends will have the right to ask if you were properly seconded." "By the unhappy result, your Lordship delicately insinuates my death?" He gave a little sigh, adjusted his cravat, and smoothed down his moustaches at the glass over the chimney. "If it should occur as your Lordship surmises," said I, "it little matters who officiates on the occasion; indeed," added I, stroking my beard, "the barber mightn't be an inappropriate friend. But I 've been 'out' on matters of this kind a few times, and somehow I never got grazed yet; and that's more than the man opposite me was able to say." "You 'll stand before a man to-morrow, sir, that can hit a Napoleon at twenty paces." Faith, Tom, I was nigh saying I wish he could find one for a mark about _me_; but I caught myself in time, and only observed,-- "He must be an elegant shot."