"You see, my dear, that these Irish have the strongest imaginations
in the world; and that I had actually persuaded poor Mac that he and
I were friends in Spain. Everybody knew Mac, who was a character in
his way, and believed him.

"'Strike a gentleman,' says I. 'I'll have your blood, I will.'

"'This instant,' says the Count, who was boiling with fury; 'and
where you like.'

"'Montague House,' says I. 'Good,' says he. And off we went. In
good time too, for the constables came in at the thought of such a
disturbance, and wanted to take us in charge.

"But the gentlemen present, being military men, would not hear of
this. Out came Mac's rapier, and that of half-a-dozen others; and
the constables were then told to do their duty if they liked, or to
take a crown-piece, and leave us to ourselves. Off they went; and
presently, in a couple of coaches, the Count and his friends, I and
mine, drove off to the fields behind Montague House. Oh that vile
coffee-house! why did I enter it?

"We came to the ground. Honest Macshane was my second, and much
disappointed because the second on the other side would not make a
fight of it, and exchange a few passes with him; but he was an old
major, a cool old hand, as brave as steel, and no fool. Well, the
swords are measured, Galgenstein strips off his doublet, and I my
handsome cut-velvet in like fashion. Galgenstein flings off his
hat, and I handed mine over--the lace on it cost me twenty pounds.