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I took it from the point of that worthy's rapier It ran thus: "SIR,--At what hour to-morrow and at what place do you prefer to die? And eapon shall I kill you?"
"Captain Percy will give me credit for the profound reluctance hich I act in this affair against a gentleh in the esteem of the colony," said Master Pory, with his hand upon his heart "When I tell hiht at Paris in a duel of six on the same side with my late Lord Carnal, and that when I was last at court my Lord Warwick did me the honor to present me to the present lord, he will see that I could not well refuse when the latter requested my aid"
"Master Pory's disinterestedness is perfectly well known," I said, without a ser side, sure he has strong reasons for so doing He will oblige ht sunrise a pleasant hour for dying, and that there could be no fitter place than the field behind the church, convenient as it is to the graveyard As for weapons, I have heard that he is a good swordsman, but I have some little reputation that way ers, so be it"
"I think we may assu a friend?" he asked
"I do not despair of finding one," I answered, "though my second, Master Secretary, will put himself in some jeopardy"
"It is combat outrance, I believe?"
"I understand it so"
"Then we'd better have Bohun The survivor h h"
He bit his lip, but could not hide the twinkle in his eye
"You are cocksure," he said "Curiously enough, so is my lord There are no further formalities to adjust, I believe? To-morrow at sunrise, behind the church, and with rapiers?"
"Precisely"
He slapped his blade back into its sheath "Then that's over and done with, for the nonce at least! Sufficient unto the day, etcetera 'S life! I'm hot and dry! You've sacked cities, Ralph Percy; now sackout his sherris I'll be at charges for the next communion"
We sat us down upon the doorstep with a tankard of sack between us, and Master Pory drank, and drank, and drank again
"How's the crop?" he asked "Martin reports it poorer in quality than ever, but Sir George will have it that it is very Varinas"