As a blow is strictly prohibited under any circumstances amongst
gentlemen, no verbal apology can be received for such an insult: the
alternatives therefore are—first, the offender handing a cane to the
injured party, to be used on his own person, at the same time
begging pardon;—second, firing on until one or both are disabled; or
thirdly, exchanging three shots, and then asking pardon, _without_
the proffer of the _cane_.
If swords are used, the parties engage till one is well blooded,
disabled, or disarmed; or until, after receiving a wound, and blood
being drawn, the aggressor begs pardon.
N.B. A _disarm_ is considered the same as a _disable_: the disarmer
may (strictly) break his adversary’s sword; but if it be the
challenger who is disarmed, it is considered as ungenerous to do so.
In case the challenged be disarmed, and refuses to ask pardon or
atone, he must not be _killed_, as formerly; but the challenger may
lay his own sword on the aggressor’s shoulder, then break the
aggressor’s sword, and say, “I spare your life!” The challenged can
never revive that quarrel—the challenger may.