roceed to the west side of Hyde Park, beneath the trees. I
shall expect you there. On my return I shall call on your wife.'

'I pray you do so, sir,' replied Disbrowe, disdainfully.

Both then quitted the Coffee-house, Parravicin attended by his
companions, and Disbrowe accompanied by a military friend, whom he
accidentally encountered. Each party taking a coach, they soon reached
the ground, a retired spot completely screened from observation by
trees. The preliminaries were soon arranged, for neither would admit of
delay. The conflict then commenced with great fury on both sides; but
Parravicin, in spite of his passion, observed far more caution than his
antagonist; and taking advantage of an unguarded movement, occasioned
by the other's impetuosity, passed his sword through his body. Disbrowe
fell.

'You are again successful,' he groaned, 'but save my wife--save her!'

'What mean you?' cried Parravicin, leaning over him, as he wiped his
sword.

But Disbrowe could make no answer. His utterance was choked by a sudden
effusion of blood on the lungs, and he instantly expired.

Leaving the body in care of the second, Parravicin and his friends
returned to the coach, his friends congratulating him on the issue of
the conflict; but the knight looked grave, and pondered upon the words
of the dying man. After a time, however, he recovered his spirits, and
dined with his friends at the Smyrna; but they observed that he drank
more deeply than usual. His excesses did not, however, prevent him from
playing with his usual skill, and he won a large sum from one of his
companions at Hazard.

Flushed with success, and heated with wine, he walked up to Disbrowe's
residence about an hour after midnight. As he approached the house, he
observed a strangely-shaped cart at the door, and, halting for a moment,
saw a body, wrapped in a shroud, brought out. Could it be Mrs Disbrowe?
Rushing forward to one of the assistants in black cloaks, he asked whom
he was about to inter.

'It is a Mrs Disbrowe,' replied the coffin-maker. 'She died of grief,
because her husband was killed this morning in a duel; but as she had
the plague, it must be put down to that. We are not particular in such
matters, and shall bury her and her husband together; and as there is no
money left to pay for coffins, they must go to the grave without them.'

And as the body of his victim also was brought forth, Parravicin fell
against the wall in a state of stupef