第82章

Private war, a practice unknown to the civilised ancients, is, of all the absurdities introduced by the Gothic tribes, the most gross, impious, and cruel.Let me hear no more of these absurd quarrels, and I will show you the treatise upon the duello, which I composed when the town-clerk and provost Mucklewhame chose to assume the privileges of gentlemen, and challenged each other.I thought of printing my Essay, which is signed _Pacificator;_ but there was no need, as the matter was taken up by the town-council of the borough.''

``But I assure you, my dear sir, there is nothing between Captain M`Intyre and me that can render such respectable interference necessary.''

``See it be so; for otherwise, I will stand second to both parties.''

So saying, the old gentleman got into the chaise, close to which Miss M`Intyre had detained her brother, upon the same principle that the owner of a quarrelsome dog keeps him by his side to prevent his fastening upon another.But Hector contrived to give her precaution the slip, for, as he was on horseback, he lingered behind the carriages until they had fairly turned the corner in the road to Knockwinnock, and then, wheeling his horse's head round, gave him the spur in the opposite direction.

A very few minutes brought him up with Lovel, who, perhaps anticipating his intention, had not put his horse beyond a slow walk, when the clatter of hoofs behind him announced Captain M`lntyre.The young soldier, his natural heat of temper exasperated by the rapidity of motion, reined his horse up suddenly and violently by Lovel's side, and touching his hat slightly, inquired, in a very haughty tone of voice, ``What am I to understand, sir, by your telling me that your address was at my service?''

``Simply, sir,'' replied Lovel, ``that my name is Lovel, and that my residence is, for the present, Fairport, as you will see by this card.''

``And is this all the information you are disposed to give me?''

``I see no right you have to require more.''

``I find you, sir, in company with my sister,'' said the young soldier, ``and I have a right to know who is admitted into Miss M`Intyre's society.''

``I shall take the liberty of disputing that right,'' replied Lovel, with a manner as haughty as that of the young soldier;--``you find me in society who are satisfied with the degree of information on my affairs which I have thought proper to communicate, and you, a mere stranger, have no right to inquire further.''

``Mr.Lovel, if you served as you say you have''--``If!'' interrupted Lovel,--``_if_ I have served as _I say_ Ihave?''

``Yes, sir, such is my expression--_if_ you have so served, you must know that you owe me satisfaction either in one way or other.''

``If that be your opinion, I shall be proud to give it to you, Captain M`Intyre, in the way in which the word is generally used among gentlemen.''

``Very well, sir,'' rejoined Hector, and, turning his horse round, galloped off to overtake his party.

His absence had already alarmed them, and his sister, having stopped the carriage, had her neck stretched out of the window to see where he was.

``What is the matter with you now?'' said the Antiquary, ``riding to and fro as your neck were upon the wager--why do you not keep up with the carriage?''

``I forgot my glove, sir,'' said Hector.

``Forgot your glove!--I presume you meant to say you went to throw it down--But I will take order with you, my young gentleman--you shall return with me this night to Monkbarns.''

So saying, he bid the postilion go on.