Part 23 (2/2)

”J DENIS”

IV

”Mr DENIS:

”Stop!--I didn't say I was engaged to any lady: no

”Yours always,

”Charles HOFFLAND”

V

”Mr HOFFLAND:

”I do not understand your note You evade my request for an explanation I think, therefore, that the shortest ill be to end the s you this will ements

”I have the honor to be,

”J DENIS”

VI

”Oh, Mr Denis, to shoot me in cold blood! Well, never e But who in the world will be _ht not to--decidedly He likes you, and you seeirl as she is Ernest's sister Therefore, as I have no other friend but Ernest, I should think wehi with some people, and they say I have 'the choice of weapons'--because you challenged ht with a sword, I think, than be shot, but I think we had better have pistols I therefore suggest pistols, and I have been reading all about fighting, and can lay down the rules

”1 The pistols shall be held by the principals with the ht toe--pointing that way, I mean

”2 The word shall be 'Fire! One, Two, Three!' and if either fire before 'one' or after 'three,' he shall be immediately killed For you knoould be entlemanly affair of honor

”3 The survivor, if he is a bachelor, shall marry the wife of the one who falls You are a bachelor, I believe, and so am I: thus this will not be very hard, and for lad; I shouldn't like to ht on the college green, and Dr S tree to look on from--near his door, you know

”I have the honor to be,

”Yours truly,

”Charles HOFFLAND

VII