His Grace — page 242: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

236 HIS GRACE. As a confession, and as evidence of guilt, it was abso- lute and complete, Hurstbourne said. He added that, such being the case, he could not, of course, suffer it to remain in existence. That, indeed, was what he openly and unhesitatingly announced at the time ; whereupon Mr. Gascoigne, by a sudden deft movement, and with much presence of mind, repossessed himself of the incriminating document. Immediately afterwards there was a scuffle. I can truthfully and honestly say that I don’t know how or when [ was drawn into it, nor what precise object I had in view, beyond the laudable and respectable one of keeping the peace; but the worst of taking part in scuffles is that one can never tell what position one may find oneself in at the end of them, and, at the risk of forfeiting the reader’s esteem, I must confess that when that one ended I found myself holding Mr. Gascoigne’s arms tightly behind his back. He was much excited, he was struggling violently, and he was making use of language which, I am assured, is never heard within the precincts of St. Stephen’s. Mean- while, Hurstbourne was deliberately tearing that ante- diluvian love-letter into little bits, and thrusting the fragments into his pocket. A more high-handed and outrageous proceeding I never heard of, and although, as regards the share that J had in it, I might perhaps plead extenuating circumstances, I will not do so. Amongst other compliments which Mr. Gascoigne addressed to me in the heat of the moment, he called me a hired bully: it is not for me to deny that he was ° justified in thus describing me. However, the letter had now been torn to pieces and could not be put together again (for I was sure Hurst- <S Eomichoo (E(0)