opportunity
wanting; for I no sooner approached than he asked, with a stern
countenance, what business I had in Mr. Topehall's garden so early in
the morning? "I don't know, my lord," said I, "how to answer a question
put to me with such magisterial haughtiness. If your lordship will
please to expostulate calmly, you will have no cause to repent of your
condescension; otherwise I am not to be intimated into any confession."
"There is no room for denial," answered he; "I saw you come out with my
own eyes." "Did any other see me?" said I. "I neither know nor care,"
said he; "I want no other evidence than that of my own senses." Pleased
to hear that the suspicion was confined to him alone, I endeavoured to
appease his jealousy, by owning an intrigue with the waiting maid: but
he had too much discernment to be so easily imposed upon, and told me
there was only one way to convince him of the truth of what I alleged,
which was no other than renouncing all claim to Narcissa upon oath,
and promising, upon honour, never to speak to her for the future.
Exasperated at this proposal, I unsheathed my sword, saying, "Heavens!
what title have you, or any man on earth, to impose such terms on me?"
He did the same, and making towards me with a contracted brow, said
I was a villain, and had dishonoured Narcissa. "He's a villain," I
replied, in a transport of fury, "who brands me with that imputation!
She is a thousand times more chaste than the mother that bore you; and I
will assert her honour with my heart's blood!" So saying, I rushed upon
him with more eagerness than address, and, endeavouring to get within
his point, received a wound in my neck, which redoubled my rage. He
excelled me in temper as well as in skill, by which means he parried my
thrusts with great calmness, until I had almost exhausted my spirits;
and, when he perceived me beginning to flag, attacked me fiercely in
his turn. Finding himself, however, better opposed than he expected, he
resolved to follow his lounge, and close with me; accordingly, his sword
entered my waistcoat, on the side of the breast bone, and, running up
between my shirt and skin, appeared over my left shoulder. I imagined
that his weapon had perforated my lungs, and of consequence that the
wound was mortal; therefore, determined not to die unrevenged, I seized
his shell, which was close to my breast, before he could disentangle his
point, and, keeping it fast with my left hand, shortened my own s