lty," replied the
captain, "rather than not allow you to heal your wounded honour. I will
stay till the day after to-morrow, should it be requisite for the
arrangement of this business."

"Thank you: many thanks," replied the colonel, with an expression of
disappointment. "Then I had better prepare the letter?"

"Carta por senhor commandante," interrupted a Portuguese, presenting a
letter to the colonel; "O senhor embaixo; queir risposta."

The colonel opened the letter, which contained Mr Sullivan's
challenge,--pistols--to-morrow morn, at daylight--one mile on the road
to Machico.

The colonel's countenance changed two or three shades less yellow as he
read the contents: recovering himself with a giggle, he handed the
letter to Captain Carrington. "You see, captain, the gentleman has
saved me the trouble--He, he, he! these little affairs are common to
gentlemen of our profession--He, he! and since the gentleman wishes it,
why, I presume--He, he! that we must not disappoint him."

"Since you are both of one mind, I think there will be some business
done," observed Mr S---. "I perceive that he is in earnest by the
place named for the meeting. We generally settle our affairs of honour
in the Loo-fields; but I suppose he is afraid of interruption.--They
want an answer, colonel."

"Oh! he shall have one," replied the colonel, tittering with excitement;
"he shall have one. What hour does he say?"

"Oh! we will arrange all that. Come, colonel," said Captain Carrington,
taking him familiarly by the arm, and leading him away.

The answer was despatched, and they sat down to dinner. Many were the
friendly and encouraging glasses of wine drank with the colonel, who
recovered his confidence, and was then most assiduous in his attentions
to the ladies to prove his perfect indifference. He retired at an early
hour nevertheless.

In the mean time Mr Sullivan had received the answer, and had retired
to his counting-house, to arrange his affairs in case of accident. He
had not seen his wife since the fracas. And now we will leave them both
for awhile, and make a few remarks upon duelling.

Most people lament, many abuse the custom as barbarous; but barbarous it
is not, or it would not be necessary in a state of high civilisation.
It is true that by the practice we offend laws human and divine; but at
the same time, it must be acknowledged, that neither law nor religion
can keep society in such good order, or so r