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 the count, in which case I consent to consider the affair as terminated here.’

“As you may naturally believe, I rejected his proposition.

As it must be so,’ replied he, ‘recommend your soul to God.’ We prepared accordingly.

It is your first fire,’ he said to me.

I yield it to you,’ answered I.

“He refused to fire first. I then drew the trigger, and caused the pistol to drop from his hand. He appeared surprised: but his astonishment was great indeed, when, after taking up another pistol, he found he had missed me. He pretended to have aimed at my heart; and had not even the possibility of an excuse; for he could not but acknowledge that no sensation of fear on my part had induced me to move, and baulk his aim.

“At his request I fired a second time; and again aimed at his pistol which he held in his left hand: and to his great astonishment it dropped also; but the ball had passed so near his hand, that it was a good deal bruised.

“His second fire having passed me, I told him I would not fire again; but that, as it was possible the extreme agitation of his mind had occasioned him to miss me twice, I proposed adjusting matters.

“Before he had time to refuse my offer, the