mere sport across his stalwart arm.

"Run, Tommy," said Mr. Costigan to the little messenger, "and fetch Mr.
Garbetts from his lodgings over the tripe shop, ye know, and tell 'em to
send two glasses of whisky-and-water, hot, from the Grapes." So Tommy
went his way; and presently Mr. Garbetts and the whisky came.

Captain Costigan did not disclose to him the whole of the previous
events, of which the reader is in possession; but, with the aid of the
spirits-and-water, he composed a letter of a threatening nature to Major
Pendennis's address, in which he called upon that gentleman to offer no
hindrance to the marriage projected between Mr. Arthur Pendennis and his
daughter, Miss Fotheringay, and to fix an early day for its celebration:
or, in any other case, to give him the satisfaction which was usual
between gentlemen of honour. And should Major Pendennis be disinclined to
this alternative, the Captain hinted, that he would force him to accept
by the use of a horsewhip, which he should employ upon the Major's
person. The precise terms of this letter we cannot give, for reasons
which shall be specified presently; but it was, no doubt, couched in the
Captain's finest style, and sealed elaborately with the great silver seal
of the Costigans--the only bit of the family plate which the Captain
possessed.

Garbetts was despatched then with this message and letter; and bidding
Heaven bless 'um the General squeezed his ambassador's hand, and saw him
depart. Then he took down his venerable and murderous duelling-pistols,
with flint locks, that had done the business of many a pretty fellow in
Dublin: and having examined these, and seen that they were in a
satisfactory condition, he brought from the drawer all Pen's letters and
poems which he kept there, and which he always read before he permitted