"I never heard of its use among men of honor," said Wiggins.
"Why, Sir, who originated the practice of dueling? Were not the chivalrous knights of the Middle Ages the first to adopt this mode of settling disputes?"
"Certainly," said the representative of Botts.
"And were not those knights gentlemen and men of honor?"
"Of course they were," said Wiggins. "Who can doubt that?"
"And did they not fight with battle-axes?"
"Oh, certainly," said Wiggins. "We read of that in Froissart and the other chroniclers of those days."
"Well, sir, will you be so good as to show me the difference between a battle-axe and a broad-axe? Can you point it out?"
"I confess that I cannot," said Wiggins.
"There is no difference; except that our carpenters, in the peaceful occupation of hewing timber, have found a short handle more convenient than the long ones used in the days of chivalry by honorable knights and gentlemen. I propose to lengthen the handles and let our men fight like gallant paladins with the legitimate weapons of the duello."