“The match between your lady mother and Sir William Brownlow is broken off.  This took place just after you sailed for the wars.  It was brought about by our friend, Monsieur Dessin.  This gentleman—­who is, although I know not his name, a French nobleman of title and distinction—­received, about the time you left, the news that he might shortly expect to hear that the decree which had sent him into exile was reversed.  Some little time later a compatriot of his came down to stay with him.  Monsieur Dessin, who I know cherished ill feeling against Sir William for the insult which his son had passed upon his daughter, and for various belittling words respecting that young lady which Sir William had in his anger permitted himself to use in public, took occasion when he was riding through the streets of Derby, accompanied by his friends, Lord Pomeroy and Sir John Hawkes, gentlemen of fashion and repute, to accost him.  Sir William swore at him as a French dancing master; whereupon Monsieur Dessin at once challenged him to a duel.  Sir William refused with many scornful words to meet a man of such kind, whereupon Monsieur Dessin, drawing Lord Pomeroy to him, in confidence disclosed his name and quality, to which his compatriot—­also a French nobleman—­testified, and of which he offered to produce documents and proofs.  They did then adjourn to a tavern, where they called for a private room, to talk the matter over out of earshot of the crowd; and after examining the proofs, Lord Pomeroy and Sir John Hawkes declared that Sir William Brownlow could not refuse the satisfaction which Monsieur Dessin demanded.

“It has always been suspected that Sir William was a man of small courage, though of overbearing manner, and he was mightily put to when he heard that he must fight with a man whom he justly regarded as being far more than his match.  So craven did he become, indeed, that the gentlemen with him did not scruple to express their disgust loudly.  Monsieur Dessin said that, unless Sir William did afford him satisfaction, he would trounce him publicly as a coward, but that he had one other alternative to offer.  All were mightily surprised when he stated that this alternative was that he should write a letter to Mistress Holliday renouncing all claim to her hand.  This Sir William for a time refused to do, blustering much; but finally, having no stomach for a fight, and fearing the indignity of a public whipping, he did consent so to do; and Monsieur Dessin having called for paper and pens, the letter was then written, and the four gentlemen signed as witnesses.  The party then separated, Lord Pomeroy and Sir John Hawkes riding off without exchanging another word with Sir William Brownlow.

“Your lady mother was in a great taking when she received the letter, and learned the manner in which it had come to be written.  Monsieur Dessin left the town, with his daughter, two days later.  He came over to take farewell of me, and expressed himself with great feeling and heartiness as to the kindness which he was good enough to say that I had shown him.  I assured him, as you may believe, that the action he had forced Mistress Holliday’s suitor to take left me infinitely his debtor.