e door,
and was pushed in by coachee, who, immediately mounted the box and
flourishing his whip, soon rescued him from his perilous situation, and
the jeers of the surrounding multitude.

Tom, who in the bustle of the crowd had slipped the card of his
antagonist into his pocket, now took Bob's arm, and they pursued their
way down St. James's Street, and could not help laughing at the affair:
but Tallyho, who had a great aversion to duelling, and was thinking of
the consequences, bit his lips, and expressed his sorrow at what
had occurred; he ascribed the hasty imputation of drunkenness to the
irritating effects of the poor creature's accident, and expressed his
hope that his cousin would take no further notice of it. Tom, however,
on the other ~75~~hand, ridiculed Bob's fears--told him it was a point
of honour not to suffer an insult in the street from any man--nor would
he--besides, the charge of drunkenness from such a thing as that, is not
to be borne. "D----n it, man, drunkenness in the early part of the day
is a thing I abhor, it is at all times what I would avoid if possible,
but at night there may be many apologies for it; nay in some cases even
to avoid it is impossible. The pleasures of society are enhanced
by it--the joys of love are increased by the circulation of the
glass--harmony, conviviality and friendship are produced by it--though I
am no advocate for inebriety, and detest the idea of the beast--

"Who clouds his reason by the light of day,
And falls to drink, an early and an easy prey."

"Well," said Bob, "I cannot help thinking this poor fellow, who has
already betrayed his fears, will be inclined to make any apology for his
rudeness to-morrow."

"If he does not," said Tom, "I'll wing him, to a certainty--a
jackanapes--a puppy--a man-milliner; perhaps a thing of shreds and
patches--he shall not go unpunished, I promise you; so come along, we
will just step in here, and I'll dispatch this business at once: I'll
write a challenge, and then it will be off my hands." And so saying,
they entered a Coffee-house, where, calling for pen, ink and paper, Tom
immediately began his epistle, shrewdly hinting to his Cousin, that he
expected he would act as his Second. "It will be a fine opportunity for
introducing your name to the gay world--the newspapers will record your
name as a man of ton. Let us see now how it will appear:--On ---- last,
the Honourable Tom Dashall, attended by his Cou