Lord Sidney reluctantly consented, and the two men walked out of the coffee-house.
'There are to be no apologies, I trust,' said Lord Sidney.
Montague laughed.
'Your lordship need have no fears. What I propose is entirely unknown to Mr. Wogan. But it seems to me that the conditions of the duel have changed. If Mr. Wogan shows his face in London he will be taken. If he fights you, it matters not whether you pink him or no, for if he escapes your sword he will be taken by the Messengers. On the other hand, he will not go from London until he has met you; unless--'
'Unless--?'
'Unless your lordship insists upon deferring the meeting until it can take place in France.'
'Yes, I will consent to that,' said Lord Sidney, after a moment's pause. 'It is common fairness.'
'Again I take the liberty to observe that your lordship does not know the gentleman. You must insist.'
Lord Sidney was brought without great difficulty to understand the justice of Colonel Montague's argument.
'Very well; I will insist,' he said; and, coming back to Burton's coffee-house, he wrote a polite letter, which the Colonel put in his pocket.