by the hand of Talbot.

I repaired to the rendezvous, where I found Talbot waiting. He came up
to me, and again said:--

"Frank, I call Heaven to witness that you are mistaken. You are wrong.
Suspend your opinion, at least, if you will not recall your words."

Totally possessed by the devil, and not to be convinced till too late, I
replied to his peaceful overture by the most insulting irony: "You were
not afraid to fire at a poor boy in the water," said I, "though you do
not like to stand a shot in return. Come, come, take your ground, be a
man, stand up, don't be afraid."

"For myself," said Talbot, with a firm and placid resignation of
countenance, "I have no fears; but for you, Frank, I have great cause of
alarm:" so saying, he snatched up the loaded pistol, which I threw down
to him.

We had no seconds; nor was there any person in sight. It was a bright
moonlight, and we walked to the water's edge, where the reflux of the
tide had left the sand firm to the tread. Here we stood back to back.
The usual distance was fourteen paces. Talbot refused to measure his,
but stood perfectly still. I walked ten paces, and turned round.
"Ready," said I, in a low voice.

We both raised our arms; but Talbot, instantly dropping the muzzle of
his pistol, said, "I cannot fire at the brother of Clara!"

"I can at her insulter," answered I; and, taking deliberate aim, fired,
and my ball entered his side. He bounded, gave a half-turn round in the
air, and fell on his face to the ground.

How sudden are the transitions of the human mind! how close does remorse
follow the gratification of revenge! The veil dropped from my eyes; I
saw in an instant the false medium, the deceitful vision, which had thus
allured me into what the world calls "an affair of honour." "Honour,"
good Heaven! had made me a murderer, and the voice of my brother's blood
cried out for vengeance.

The manly and athletic form, which one minute before excited my most
malignant hatred, when now prostrate and speechless became an object of
frantic affection. I ran to Talbot, and when it was too late perceived
the mischief I had done. Murder, cruelty, injustice, and, above all,
the most detestable ingratitude, flushed at once into my over-crowded
imagination. I turned the body round, and tried to discover if there
were any signs of life. A small stream of blood ran from his side, and,
about two feet from him, was lost in the absorbing sand; while fr