'Deuce a pistol or cap, but this!'
He held up—a lady's night-cap!
'Look here—and here—and here!'—holding up successively a hair-brush, a long, white night-gown, a cologne-bottle, and a comb.
They were greeted with a long whistle by the Captain, and a blank stare by the two principals.
'Confound the luck!' ejaculated the Captain; 'if we haven't made a mistake, and brought the wrong valise!'
The principals looked at the seconds. The seconds looked at the principals. Nobody [pg 239] volunteered a suggestion. At last the Doctor inquired,
'Well, what's to be done?'
'D——d unlucky!' again ejaculated the Captain. 'The duel can't go on.'
'Evidently not,' responded the Doctor, 'unless they brain each other with the hair-brush, or take a pop at each other with the cologne-bottle.'
'You are quite sure there are no pistols in the valise?' said one of the principals, with suppressed eagerness, and drawing a long breath of evident relief.