"But, my good lord," said Dr. Butts, who had turned back, "this is a mistake. How can you have offended this good knight, who never saw you till to-day?"
"Oh, the problem! the problem, my good doctor," replied Lord Darby. "Why does a farmer's cur bark at a beggar, and let a ruffling gallant swagger by? Perchance the knight may not like my countenance; my complexion, my nose, may not please him; my mouth, the cut of my beard."
"Faith! neither one nor the other pleases me particularly," answered Sir Osborne. "At all events, my lord, if your wish be to quarrel with me, I will not balk your humour. So say your will, and have it."
"Oh! if that be the case," said Lord Darby, "and you'd rather be quarrelled with than quarrel, the offence shall come on my part. Fair sir, I dislike that scar upon your brow so much that I shall not be content till I make its fellow on your heart; therefore, when your good humour serves to give me an opportunity of tilting at your nose, you will find me your very humble servant."
"Nay, now, my lord!" cried Dr. Butts, "I must witness that you have given the provocation; for under any other circumstances, this gentleman is so situated that 'twould be mere madness to meet you as you wish."
"If it be provocation he desires," cried the earl, "he shall have a dish of it, so cooked as to serve an emperor. He is a gentleman, I suppose, and worth a gentleman's sword?"
"Your equal in every respect, and your better in many," replied the knight. "And in regard to provocation, I have had as much, my lord, as your body may well bear in repayment. How do you choose to fight?"
"Quietly! quietly!" answered the earl. "A few inches of tough steel are as good as a waggon load. A double-edged sword, sir, such as we both wear, may serve our turn, I should suppose; and as it may be unpleasant to both of us to make the monster multitude busy with our little affair, we will be single, hand to hand. I do detest the habit of making the satisfaction of private wrongs the public amusement. We'll have no crowd, sir, to look on and criticise our passados, as if we were gladiators on a stage. Where shall it be?"
"Why, faith, my lord!" answered the knight, "as I am a mere stranger here, I know but of one place. The gardens of my Lord of Buckingham, at the Rose, are large; and I remarked this morning a grove, where there must be good space and quiet. If, therefore, you will inquire for me at his grace's dwelling this evening, at four of the clock, you will find me prepared to receive you."
Lord Darby waved his hand for his page to come up, who stood chattering with the foot-boy that had accompanied the knight, and taking from him a case of tablets, he wrote down the name of Sir Osborne, and the place and hour he had appointed. "And now, fair sir," said he, "I will leave you. I shall not miss my hour. Good doctor, your profession has doubtless taught you secrecy, and so farewell!"