'A prudent match!' cried I. 'Just conceive--a prudent match! Oh, Stuart, I declare I am quite ashamed of you.' ''Pon honour,' said his lordship, 'you are too severe. I will bet five to four he means well.' 'No doubt,' said I. 'And to be candid, I think him a mighty good sort of a man.' 'A proper behaved young person,' said his lordship. 'An honest _bon diable_!' added I. 'A worthy soul!' said he. 'A respectable character!' cried I. 'A decent creature!' said he. 'A humane and pious christian,' cried I. This last hit was irresistible, and both of us burst out laughing, while Stuart sat silent, and even affected to smile. 'Now is your time,' whispered I, to his lordship. 'A few more sarcasms, and he crouches to you for ever.' 'I fancy, young gentleman,' said his lordship, turning full upon Stuart, and laughing so long, that I thought he would never finish the sentence; 'I fancy, my tight fellow, you may now knock under.' 'I am not always inclined to do so,' replied Stuart; 'neither am I easily provoked to knock down.' 'Knock down whom?' demanded his lordship, with the most complete frown I had ever beheld. 'A puppy,' said Stuart coolly. 'You lie!' vociferated our hero. 'Leave the room, Sir,' cried Stuart, starting from his seat. Montmorenci rose, retreated to the door;--stopped--went on--stopped again--moved--stopped-- 'Vanish!' cried Stuart, advancing. His lordship vanished. I ran, snatched a pen, and wrote on a scrap of paper 'VINDICATE YOUR HONOUR, OR NEVER APPEAR IN MY PRESENCE!' I then rang the bell for the maid, and slipping some silver into her hand, begged that she would deliver the paper to his lordship. Higginson then started from his chair. 'After a deliberate consideration of the subject,' said he, 'I am more and more convinced, that a poet is the first character in society.' During a whole hour, I remained in a state of the most distracting suspense, for he never returned! Meantime, Stuart was privately pressing me to leave my lodgings, and remain at his father's, till Wilkinson should be found. Indignant at the cowardly conduct of his lordship, I was almost consenting; when on a sudden, the door flew open, and with a slow step and dignified deportment, Lord Altamont Mortimer Montmorenci entered. All eyes were rivetted on him. He walked towards Stuart, and fell upon one knee before him: 'I come, Sir,' said he, 'to retract that abuse which I gave you just now. I submit to whatever punishment you please; nor shall I think my honour re-established till my fault is repaired. Then grant me the pardon that I beg, on whatever conditions you think proper.' 'For shame!' exclaimed I, with an indignation that I could not suppress. 'You a hero?' His lordship instantly snatched a book from his pocket, and opening a passage, presented it to me. The book was _La Nouvelle Heloise_.