The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 157: what you’re looking at

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

136 REYNOLDS’ WORKS Christian mentioned his address, and we should add that before the parties finally quitted the ground, it was agreed, for the sakes of all, to keep the whole affair as quiet as possible. | Notwithstanding our hero had displayed so much firmness and courage, it would be ridiculous to assert that he was not infinitely rejoiced at his own escape from death or injury, though, on the other hand, he was greatly afflicted, as we have already said, on account of the failure of his attempt to spare his adversary. On returning to London, he took his leave of Stanley, whom he warmly thanked for his co- operation; and he proceeded to his own lodgings. Mrs. Macaulay and the servants fancied that he must have gone out at that early hour on some business connected with the case of Lord Clandon, and therefore not for an instant did they suspect that he had been risking his life in a duel. It was with a feeling of indescribable satisfaction that he des- troyed the letters which he had written, and he now awaited the hour when Wilson Stanhope was to call upon him. A little after twelve o’clock the expected visitor was announced. Stanhope detested Christian, for the reasons which are already known to the reader, but still he had a strong feeling of curiosity to learn what our hero could possibly have to say to him. This feeling therefore im- parted to Stanhope’s manner a certain tincture of eagerness, which prevented it from appearing sullenly constrained, as it otherwise would have been. As for Christian himself, he was cold and distant, while his countenance wore a look of resolution, which added to Stanhope’s curiosity, though with- out awakening his fears, for he little suspected what was to follow. Be Our hero bade him be seated, and also taking a chair, he said, ‘‘ Mr. Stanhope, I am about to address you in a manner for which you are evidently not prepared, but there is a fixed determination in my mind, and I warn you at the very outset that you will have to bend to it.” ‘It would seem, Mr. Ashton,” replied Stanhope, ‘‘ that you wish to fight another duel with the least possible de- lay.” ‘Rest assured, sir,’’ retorted our hero, but in a calm, dignified manner, ‘‘ that you are not in a position to demand any satisfaction at my hands.” CORNIELIOOLKKS (E()