Doubt not, therefore, Jack, that I shall give a good account of this affair.  Mean time, I remain,

Your’s most affectionately, &c. 
Lovelace.

LETTER LXII

Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq. 
Trent, Dec. 3—­14.

To-morrow is to be the day, that will, in all probability, send either one or two ghosts to attend the manes of my Clarissa.

I arrived here yesterday; and inquiring for an English gentleman of the name of Morden, soon found out the Colonel’s lodgings.  He had been in town two days; and left his name at every probable place.

He was gone to ride out; and I left my name, and where to be found; and in the evening he made me a visit.

He was plaguy gloomy.  That was not I. But yet he told me that I had acted like a man of true spirit in my first letter; and with honour, in giving him so readily this meeting.  He wished I had in other respects; and then we might have seen each other upon better terms than now we did.

I said there was no recalling what was passed; and that I wished some things had not been done, as well as he.

To recriminate now, he said, would be as exasperating as unavailable.  And as I had so cheerfully given him this opportunity, words should give place to business.—­Your choice, Mr. Lovelace, of time, of place, of weapon, shall be my choice.

The two latter be your’s, Mr. Morden.  The time to-morrow, or next day, as you please.

Next day, then, Mr. Lovelace; and we’ll ride out to-morrow, to fix the place.

Agreed, Sir.

Well:  now, Mr. Lovelace, do you choose the weapon.

I said I believed we might be upon an equal footing with the single rapier; but, if he thought otherwise, I had no objection to a pistol.

I will only say, replied he, that the chances may be more equal by the sword, because we can neither of us be to seek in that; and you would stand, says he, a worse chance, as I apprehend, with a pistol; and yet I have brought two, that you may take your choice of either; for, added he, I have never missed a mark at pistol-distance, since I knew how to hold a pistol.

I told him, that he spoke like himself; that I was expert enough that way, to embrace it, if he chose it; though not so sure of my mark as he pretended to be.  Yet the devil’s in it, Colonel, if I, who have slit a bullet in two upon a knife’s edge, hit not my man.  So I have no objection to a pistol, if it be your choice.  No man, I’ll venture to say, has a steadier hand or eye than I have.

They may both be of use to you, Sir, at the sword, as well as at the pistol:  the sword, therefore, be the thing, if you please.

With all my heart.