, you know.'

O'Connor expressed his willingness to comply with the suggestion, and in
a few minutes had folded and directed the following rejoinder:

'Mr. O'Connor having received a satisfactory explanation from Mr.
Fitzgerald, of the language used by that gentleman, feels that there no
longer exists any grounds for misunderstanding, and wishes further to
state, that the note of which Mr. Fitzgerald speaks was not intended as
a challenge.'

With this note the captain departed; and as we did not doubt that the
message which he had delivered had been suggested by some unintentional
misconstruction of O'Connor's first billet, we felt assured that the
conclusion of his last note would set the matter at rest. In this
belief, however, we were mistaken; before we had left the table, and in
an incredibly short time, the captain returned. He entered the room
with a countenance evidently tasked to avoid expressing the satisfaction
which a consciousness of the nature of his mission had conferred; but
in spite of all his efforts to look gravely unconcerned, there was a
twinkle in the small grey eye, and an almost imperceptible motion in the
corner of the mouth, which sufficiently betrayed his internal glee, as
he placed a note in the hand of O'Connor. As the young man cast his eye
over it, he coloured deeply, and turning to M'Donough, he said:

'You will have the goodness to make all the necessary arrangements for
a meeting. Something has occurred to render one between me and Mr.
Fitzgerald inevitable. Understand me literally, when I say that it is
now totally impossible that this affair should be amicably arranged.
You will have the goodness, M'Donough, to let me know as soon as all
the particulars are arranged. Purcell,' he continued, 'will you have
the kindness to accompany me?' and having bowed to M'Creagh, we left the
room.

As I closed the door after me, I heard the captain laugh, and thought I
could distinguish the words--'By ---- I knew Fitzgerald would bring him
to his way of thinking before he stopped.'

I followed O'Connor into his study, and on entering, the door being
closed, he showed me the communication which had determined him upon
hostilities. Its language was grossly impertinent, and it concluded by
actually threatening to 'POST' him, in case he further attempted 'to
be OFF.' I cannot describe the agony of indignation in which O'Connor
writhed under this insult. He said repeatedly that 'he was a degrad