“Our business, I trust, sir, can be all arranged here, and without much delay, either.”
“Just as you like; I 'm not fond of moving since my knee was bad, and I 'm agreeable to anything.”
“You seem to contemplate a hostile meeting, sir, if I understand you aright,” said Prichard, slowly; “but if you had been kind enough to hear me out, you 'd have seen that nothing was further from my friend's thoughts or my own.”
“Oh, murther!” groaned Dal ton, as he sank down into a chair.
“We never entertained any such intention.”
“No duel?”
“Nothing of the kind.”
“Sure, I heard you say satisfaction. I 'll take my oath you said satisfaction.”
“I hope sincerely, sir, that the word may bear a peaceful signification.”
“Oh dear, oh dear!” cried Dalton, as, clasping his hands on his knees, he sat, a perfect type of disappointed hope, and totally inattentive to a very eloquent explanation that Prichard was pouring forth.