"Before we leave this question I should like to make my meaning
perfectly clear. In the world as we find it there are some things for
which no definite penalty is prescribed, things that do not bring a man
within the law, but that are none the less offences in the court of
conscience and very properly censured. An action, such as we are now
discussing, is to my mind a case in point, always supposing it to be a
possible action; but is it possible?--that is the question.
"Put yourself in the place of a man who is compelled by force of
circumstances to fight a duel. Your success, if you do succeed, may be
due to the blessing of Providence, to skill, or to accident, but it
must satisfy one condition,--it must be unequivocal. You are meeting
an honourable enemy in an honourable fight, and obviously the means
you employ must be beyond all question 'straight,' and not devices so
crooked as almost to deserve the epithet 'felonious.'"
I found myself speaking with some warmth, and was pleased to see that
my remarks were received with great interest.
"Of course," I continued, "in speaking or writing on a subject of this
sort, one can only express a strictly personal opinion. Now, what do
you say? We have been let in for this duel by an evening paper. Shall
we drop it, or shall we see it through?"