and followed
him, asking him what the devil was the matter with him. Nothing
would do: he ran away without his hat, and went to bed, ill of the
fright. He then tried his complaint at the police, which dismissed
it as frivolous. He is, I believe, gone away, or going.

"The horse was warranted, but, I believe, so worded that the
villain will not be obliged to refund, according to law. He
endeavoured to raise up an indictment of assault and battery, but
as it was in a public inn, in a frequented street, there were too
many witnesses to the contrary; and, as a military man, he has not
cut a martial figure, even in the opinion of the priests. He ran
off in such a hurry that he left his hat, and never missed it till
he got to his hostel or inn. The facts are as I tell you, I can
assure you. He began by 'coming Captain Grand over me,' or I should
never have thought of trying his 'cunning in fence.' But what could
I do? He talked of 'honour, and satisfaction, and his commission;'
he produced a military passport; there are severe punishments for
_regular duels_ on the Continent, and trifling ones for
_rencontres_, so that it is best to fight it out directly; he had
robbed, and then wanted to insult me;--what could I do? My
patience was gone, and the weapons at hand, fair and equal.
Besides, it was just after dinner, when my digestion was bad, and I
don't like to be disturbed. His friend * * is at Forli; we shall
meet on my way back to Ravenna. The Hanoverian seems the greater
rogue of the two; and if my valour does not ooze away like
Acres's--'Odds flints and triggers!' if it should be a rainy
morning, and my stomach in disorder, there may be something for the
obituary.

"Now pray, 'Sir Lucius, do not you look upon me as a very ill-used
gentleman?' I send my Lieutenant to match Mr. Hobhouse's Major
Cartwright: and so 'good morrow to you, good master Lieutenant.'
With regard to other things I will write soon, but I have been
quarrelling and fooling till I can scribble no more."

* * * * *

In the month of September, Count Guiccioli, being called away by
business to Ravenna, left his young Countess and her lover to the free
enjoyment of each other's society at Bologna. The lady's ill health,
which had been the cause of her thus remaining b