if at any time, which God forbid, you shall be called upon thus to risk
your life, you should have it in your power to enter the field under the
consciousness that you have acted throughout temperately and like a man,
and not, as I fear you now would do, having rashly and most causelessly
endangered your own life and that of your friend.'

'I believe, Purcell, your are right,' said he. 'I believe I HAVE viewed
the matter in too decided a light; my note, I think, scarcely allows
him an honourable alternative, and that is certainly going a step too
far--further than I intended. Mr. M'Donough, I'll thank you to hand me
the note.'

He broke the seal, and, casting his eye hastily over it, he continued:

'It is, indeed, a monument of folly. I am very glad, Purcell, you
happened to come in, otherwise it would have reached its destination by
this time.'

He threw it into the fire; and, after a moment's pause, resumed:

'You must not mistake me, however. I am perfectly satisfied as to the
propriety, nay, the necessity, of communicating with Fitzgerald. The
difficulty is in what tone I should address him. I cannot say that the
man directly affronted me--I cannot recollect any one expression which
I could lay hold upon as offensive--but his language was ambiguous, and
admitted frequently of the most insulting construction, and his manner
throughout was insupportably domineering. I know it impressed me with
the idea that he presumed upon his reputation as a DEAD SHOT, and that
would be utterly unendurable.'

'I would now recommend, as I have already done,' said M'Donough, 'that
if you write to Fitzgerald, it should be in such a strain as to leave
him at perfect liberty, without a compromise of honour, in a friendly
way, to satisfy your doubts as to his conduct.'

I seconded the proposal warmly, and O'Connor, in a few minutes, finished
a note, which he desired us to read. It was to this effect:

'O'Connor, of Castle Connor, feeling that some expressions employed by
Mr. Fitzgerald upon last night, admitted of a construction offensive
to him, and injurious to his character, requests to know whether Mr.
Fitzgerald intended to convey such a meaning.

'Castle Connor, Thursday morning.'

This note was consigned to the care of Mr. M'Donough, who forthwith
departed to execute his mission. The sound of his horse's hoofs, as
he rode rapidly away, struck heavily at my heart; but I found some
satisfaction in the reflection that M