twilight, somebody knocked at his door,
and Pipes having opened it at his desire, he heard the voice of his
antagonist pronounce, "Tell Mr. Pallet that I am going to the place
of appointment." The painter was not a little surprised at this
anticipation, which so ill agreed with the information he had received
from Pickle; and his concern beginning to recur, he fortified himself
with a large bumper of brandy, which, however, did not overcome the
anxiety of his thoughts. Nevertheless, he set out on the expedition with
his second, betwixt whom and himself the following dialogue passed, in
their way to the ramparts.

"Mr. Pipes," said the painter, with disordered accent, "methinks the
doctor was in a pestilent hurry with that message of his."--"Ey, ey,"
answered Tom, "I do suppose he longs to be foul of you."--"What,"
replied the other, "d'ye think he thirsts after my blood?"--"To be sure
a does," said Pipes, thrusting a large quid of tobacco in his check,
with great deliberation. "If that be the case," cried Pallet, beginning
to shake, "he is no better than a cannibal, and no Christian ought to
fight him on equal footing." Tom observing his emotion, eyed him with a
frown of indignation, saying, "You an't afraid, are you?"--"God forbid,"
replied the challenger, stammering with fear; "what should I be afraid
of? The worst he can do is to take my life, and then he'll be answerable
both to God and man for the murder. Don't you think he will?"--"I think
no such matter," answered the second; "if so be as how he puts a brace
of bullets through your bows, and kills you fairly, it is no more murder
than if I was to bring down a noddy from the main top-sail yard."

By this time Pallet's teeth chattered with such violence, that he could
scarce pronounce this reply: "Mr. Thomas, you seem to make very light
of a man's life; but I trust in the Almighty. I shall not be so easily
brought down. Sure many a man has fought a duel without losing his life.
Do you imagine that I run such a hazard of falling by the hand of my
adversary?"--"You may or you may not," said the unconcerned Pipes, "just
as it happens. What then? Death is a debt that every man owes, according
to the song; and if you set foot to foot, I think one of you must go
to pot."--"Foot to foot!" exclaimed the terrified painter: "that's
downright butchery; and I'll be d-- before I fight any man on earth in
such a barbarous way. What! d'ye take me to be a savage beast?" This
decl