on
as he was gone I sent for Timothy.

"Tim," said I, "if I should be unlucky to-morrow, you are my executor
and residuary legatee. My will was made when in Dublin, and is in the
charge of Mr Cophagus."

"Japhet, I hope you will allow me one favour, which is, to go to the
ground with you. I had rather be there than remain here in suspense."

"Of course, my dear fellow, if you wish it," replied I; "but I must go to
bed, as I am to be called at four o'clock--so let's have no
sentimentalising or sermonising. Good-night, God bless you."

I was, at that time, in a state of mind which made me reckless of life or
of consequences; stung by the treatment which I received, mad with the
world's contumely, I was desperate. True it was, as Mr Masterton said, I
had not courage to buffet against an adverse gale. Timothy did not go
to bed, and at four o'clock was at my side. I rose, dressed myself with
the greatest care, and was soon joined by Captain Atkinson. We then set
off in a hackney-coach to the same spot to which I had, but a few months
before, driven with poor Carbonnell. His memory and his death came like
a cloud over my mind, but it was but for a moment. I cared little for
life. Harcourt and his second were on the ground a few minutes before
us. Each party saluted politely, and the seconds proceeded to business.
We fired, and Harcourt fell, with a bullet above his knee. I went up to
him, and he extended his hand. "Newland," said he, "I have deserved
this. I was a coward, in the first place, to desert you as I did--and a
coward, in the second, to fire at a man whom I had injured. Gentlemen,"
continued he, appealing to the seconds, "recollect, I, before you, acquit
Mr Newland of all blame, and desire, if any further accident should
happen to me, that my relations will take no steps whatever against him."

Harcourt was very pale, and bleeding fast. Without any answer I examined
the wound, and found, by the colour of the blood, and its gushing, that
an artery had been divided. My professional knowledge saved his life. I
compressed the artery, while I gave directions to the others. A
handkerchief was tied tight round his thigh, above the wound--a round
stone selected, and placed under the handkerchief, in the femoral groove,
and the ramrod of one of the pistols then made use of as a winch, until
the whole acted as a tourniquet. I removed my thumbs, found that the
hemorrhage was stopped, and then directed that he should be tak