"I am sorry I must trouble you with a word more on this disagreeable subject, Mr. Carleton," he began, after a ceremonious salutation, "My friend, Lieutenant Thorn, considers himself greatly outraged by your determination not to meet him. He begs to ask, by me, whether it is your purpose to abide by it at all hazards?"
"Yes, Sir."
"There is some misunderstanding here, which I greatly regret. I hope you will see and excuse the disagreeable necessity I am. under of delivering the rest of my friend's message."
"Say on, Sir."
"Mr. Thorn declares that if you deny him the common courtesy which no gentleman refuses to another, he will proclaim your name with the most opprobrious adjuncts to all the world; and, in place of his former regard, he will hold you in the most unlimited contempt, which he will have no scruple about showing on all occasions."
Mr. Carleton coloured a little, but replied, coolly
"I have not lived in Mr. Thorn's favour. As to the rest, I forgive him! except indeed, he provoke me to measures for which I never will forgive him."
"Measures!" said the Captain.
"I hope not! for my own self-respect would be more grievously hurt than his. But there is an unruly spring somewhere about my composition, that when it gets wound up, is once in a while too much for me."
"But," said Rossitur, "pardon me, have you no regard to the effect of his misrepresentations?"