; and indited a letter which Thomas
Newcome kept along with some others previously quoted by the compiler of
the present memoirs.

It is as follows:--

Belgrave St., Feb. 15, 18--.

"Colonel Newcome, C..B., private.

"SIR--The incredible insolence and violence of your behaviour to-day
(inspired by whatever causes or mistakes of your own), cannot be passed
without some comment, on my part. I laid before a friend of your own
profession, a statement of the words which you applied to me in the
presence of my partner and one of my clerks this morning; and my adviser
is of opinion, that considering the relationship unhappily subsisting
between us, I can take no notice of insults for which you knew when you
uttered them, I could not call you to account."

"There is some truth in that," said the Colonel. "He couldn't fight, you
know; but then he was such a liar I could not help speaking my mind."

"I gathered from the brutal language which you thought fit to employ
towards a disarmed man, the ground of one of your monstrous accusations
against me, that I deceived you in stating that my relative, Lady Kew,
was in the country, when in fact she was at her house in London.

"To this absurd charge I at once plead guilty. The venerable lady in
question was passing through London, where she desired to be free from
intrusion. At her ladyship's wish I stated that she was out of town;
and would, under the same circumstances, unhesitatingly make the same
statement. Your slight acquaintance with the person in question did
not warrant that you should force yourself on her privacy, as you would
doubtless know were you more familiar with the customs of the society in
which she moves.

"I declare upon my honour as a gentleman, that I gave her the message
which I promised to deliver from you, and also that I transmitted a
letter with which you entrusted me; and repel with scorn and indignation
the charges which you were pleased to bring against me, as I treat with
contempt the language and the threats which you thought fit to employ.

"Our books show the amount of xl. xs. xd. to your credit, which you will
be good enough to withdraw at your earliest convenience; as of course
all intercourse must cease henceforth between you and--Yours, etc.

"B. Newcome Newcome."

"I think, sir, he doesn't make out a bad case," Mr. Pendennis remarked
to the Colonel, who showed him this majestic letter.

"It would be a good case if I believed a