out it when that other affair
came to an end. I wasn't treated with any particular ceremony. The
truth is, people don't look at these things now as they used to do.
Men and women mostly do as they like till they've absolutely fixed
themselves. There used to be duels and all that kind of nonsense.
There is none of that now."

"No; you won't get shot."

"I don't mind being shot any more than another man; but you must take
the world as you find it. One young woman treated me awfully rough,
to tell the truth. And why am I not to treat another just as roughly?
If you look at it all round, you'll see that I have used them just as
they have used me."

"At any rate," said Captain McCollop, after a pause, "if you have
made up your mind, you'd better write the letter."

Sir Francis did not see the expediency of writing the letter
immediately, but at last he gave way to his friend's arguments. And
he did so the more readily as his friend was there to write the
letter for him. After some attempts on his own part, he put the
writing of the letter into the hands of the Captain, and left him
alone for an entire morning to perform the task. The letter when it
was sent, after many corrections and revises, ran as follows:--

MY DEAR MISS ALTIFIORLA,--I think that I am bound in
honour without a moment's delay to make you aware of the
condition of my mind in regard to marriage. I ain't quite
sure but what I shall be better without it altogether.--

"I'd rather marry her twice over than let my cousin have the title
and the property," said the Baronet with energy. "You needn't tell
her that," said McCollop. "Of course when you've cleared the ground
in this quarter you can begin again with another lady."

--I think that perhaps I may have expressed myself badly
so as to warrant you in understanding more than I have
meant. If so, I am sure the fault has been mine, and I am
very sorry for it. Things have turned up with which I need
not perhaps trouble you, and compel me to go for a while
to a very distant country. I shall be off almost before
I can receive a reply to this letter. Indeed, I may be
gone before an answer can reach me. But I have thought it
right not to let a post go by without informing you of my
decision.

I have seen that article in the Exeter newspaper
respecting your family in Italy, and think that it must
be very gratifying to you. I did understand, however,