t me, snapped it
without the least preamble. Alarmed at this rude salutation, I made a
stand, and, before he could adjust his other piece, fired one of mine
at him, without doing any damage, By this time he was ready with his
second, that flashed in the pan without going off; upon which he called,
with a true Tipperary cadence, "Fire away, honey!" and began to hammer
his flint with great deliberation. But I was resolved to make use of
the advantage fortune had given me, and therefore stepped up without
throwing away my fire, desiring him to ask his life, or prepare for
another world; but this stout Hibernian refused to condescend, and
complained bitterly of my having quitted my ground before he could
return my shot: saying I ought to go back to my station, and let him
have an equal chance with me. I endeavoured to persuade him that I had
given him a double chance already: and it was my business to prevent him
from enjoying a third; but now, since I had an opportunity, I demanded
a parley, and desired to know his condition and reason for calling me to
the field, who, to the best of my remembrance, far from having done
him any injury, had never before seen him. He told me that he was
a gentleman of fortune, who had spent all he had, and, hearing that
Melinda had got ten thousand pounds, he intended to make himself master
of that sum by espousing her, and he was determined, in an honourable
way, to cut the throats of all those who stood between him and his
hopes.

I then demanded to know the foundation of his hopes; and now that I
had seen him, being more and more astonished at the circumstance of
the promise, desired that he would explain that mystery. He gave me to
understand, that he trusted entirely to his birth and personal merit;
that he had frequently written to Melinda, setting forth his claim and
pretensions, but she was never kind enough to send an answer, or even
to admit him into her presence; and that the promise he mentioned in his
letter was made by his friend Mr. Gahagan, who assured him that no woman
could resist a man of his appearance. I could not forbear laughing to
excess at the simplicity of my rival, who did not seem to relish my
mirth, but began to be very serious: upon which I endeavoured to appease
him, by giving him my word and honour that, far from prejudicing
his addresses to the lady, I would represent him to her in the most
favourable light I could with any regard to truth; but he must not be