h, do let us hear it!" cried St. Maur, and half a dozen young bloods
without vests, and with shirt-bosoms falling over their waistbands
nearly to the knee. "Do let us hear, by all means, what the
white-livered fellow has to say for himself."

"No," replied Allington, hesitatingly; "that I think would be
dishonorable; although--I--don't know--the d----d fellow wouldn't
fight, and so I am not certain that I am not released--there, St.
Maur, what the devil are you at?"

But St. Maur had snatched the missile from Allington's half-extended
hand, and mounting one of the little marble julep-tables, and
supporting himself against a massive granite pillar that ran from the
ground-floor to the base of the dome, he began reading, while the
company, now increased to half a hundred morning loungers, pressed
eagerly round to hear. As my poor friend is dead, and there are none
whose feelings can now be wounded by its publication, here is the
letter.

"SIR,--Hours of an agonized struggle, in comparison
with which mere _death_ would have been an infinite
relief, have nerved me for the task of telling you,
calmly and deliberately, that I take back my acceptance
of your challenge. When I received it, I was forgetful
of my sacred promise, and acted only from the impulse
of the moment. Had your friend staid an instant, the
matter should then have been explained. As it is, I am
positively compelled, much as my heart revolts at it,
to drag a lady into my explanation. _She_, (I need not
write her name,) bound me by a solemn and most sacred
promise--to violate which would be dishonor--that I
_would not_ fight you. I must and will keep my word,
although I have seen enough of public opinion, during
the few days of my sojourn here, to know that by doing
so I am covering myself with a load of infamy which I
may find it impossible to bear.

"But enough; my course is taken, and I must abide the
consequences, whatever they may be. I, therefore, sir,
have to beg pardon, both of yourself and your friend,
for the trouble this affair has already occasioned you.

"This letter is directed to you without the knowledge
or consent of the gentleman who was to have acted as my
friend on the occasion; and he must, therefore, be held
responsible for nothing.

"Yours respectfully."

"A very pretty piece of argument and logic,