“No, never.”
“Have you seen him often in public?”
“No, I have never seen him at all but the evening Mrs Harrel received masks, and last night at the Opera.”
“Is it, then, for the safety of Sir Robert you are so extremely anxious?”
“It is for the safety of both; the cause of their quarrel was so trifling, that I cannot bear to think its consequence should be serious.”
“But do you not wish better to one of them than to the other?”
“As a matter of justice I do, but not from any partiality: Sir Robert was undoubtedly the aggressor, and Mr Belfield, though at first too fiery, was certainly ill-used.”
The candour of this speech recovered Mr Monckton from his apprehensions; and, carefully observing her looks while he spoke, he gave her the following account.
That he had hastened to Belfield's lodgings the moment he left the Opera-house, and, after repeated denials, absolutely forced himself into his room, where he was quite alone, and in much agitation: he conversed with him for more than an hour upon the subject of the quarrel, but found he so warmly resented the personal insult given him by Sir Robert, that no remonstrance had any effect in making him alter his resolution of demanding satisfaction.
“And could you bring him to consent to no compromise before you left him?” cried Cecilia.