Charlotte House Affair 01 - My Particular Friend

dissuade him?’
    ‘I said it would be throwing his life away. I asked him if he’d ever even fired a pistol … he not being a gentleman, I thought it unlikely.’
    ‘And?’
    ‘He had never fired a pistol and he thought my question … he thought I was questioning his right to challenge Sunderland, which was not my thought. Actually that does bring to mind one peculiarity of Jenkins. He doesn’t quite know his place; and there is a slight resentment of those superior to him. I don’t in any way suggest he has revolutionary ideas. I think it is just that he is too busy making money to obey decorum.’
    ‘Ah, thank you Mr Wallace, that is quite helpful. Now, what do you make of his friend, Mr Purcell?’
    ‘Nothing. He is an assistant; I hardly noticed him.’
    ‘That is unfortunate. I had hoped for better from you.’ I thought this unfair to Mr Wallace, as did Mrs Fitzhugh, who said, ‘Charlotte, I think Mr Wallace has performed admirably.’
    Charlotte dismissed us both with her casual disdain and then asked Mr Wallace, ‘H’m, can you say at least whether you think this man is loyal to his employer?’
    Mr Wallace paused for a second to examine this thought and also to help himself to another biscuit.
    ‘Yes, I think that might be a reasonable way to describe him, a loyal assistant, from the little I saw of the man.’
    ‘And you earlier met Mr Sunderland and his seconds?’
    ‘Ah, now there’s an entirely different story. Sunderland’s a fine looking sort of gentleman and very affable. He very graciously greeted me. I met him at his home in Queens Street where I found him with his second. I implored him to forgive Jenkins his unfortunate choice of words and reminded him that as a gentleman, he could safely ignore the affront with no stain upon his honour. I also told him that Jenkins had never even fired a pistol before and would probably tremble so much he couldn’t even hold it properly.’
    ‘And what did he say?’
    ‘Well, as to the first, he said that as Mr Jenkins had chosen to insult a gentleman he supposed it fair to do him the courtesy of treating him as such, and as to the second, he said that if Mr Jenkins were in no fit state to hold a pistol, he would of course hold fire, and that Mr Jenkins need merely apologize to prevent the duel, but that otherwise he expected to meet him at Claverton Downs.’ #
    ‘And as to his mood?’
    ‘As I said, he was very affable and friendly and did not appear concerned as to the outcome.’
    For a few seconds Charlotte said nothing before offering, ‘It is odd that both men seem unconcerned about the prospects of a duel.’
    ‘Not odd in Sunderland’s case,’ Mr Wallace replied. ‘He proudly shewed me his duelling pistols and said that as he has survived two previous duels he supposed he should survive a third. I suppose his optimism is understandable, especially if the parties agree that honour is satisfied after the first exchange. And that is the damnable thing about duelling. Men think their chances good because rarely is a shot placed in the first exchange and often the parties agree to end it there. But I’ve seen it end far worse, with someone injured or dead. It would be a fine thing if we could stop this madness.’ #
    He sat back in his chair after he made this statement and held his cup with both hands as if to wring what warmth he could from it.
    ‘I fear stopping it may not be in our power,’ Charlotte said. ‘Men can be so bound up in their honour they forget the injuries they inflict may extend beyond themselves.’
    She said this with a sadness that made me look at her and again I saw that numbness of her face that I now knew indicated grief, but she quickly recovered her composure to continue her questioning.
    ‘You earlier mentioned Claverton Downs. Is that where he proposes to have this duel?’
    ‘What?’ Mr Wallace said with a start after falling into a reverie of his own. ‘Yes, although of course it’s up to Mr Jenkins as the challenged party to chuse, but that’s where this sort of thing is usually done. I suppose I’ll have to give him the lay of the land, he not being acquainted with the area.’
    ‘And when do you think this will be?’
    ‘They will probably meet Monday, although it could be as early as Sunday.’
    ‘Sunday? That seems an unsuitable day,’ I said.
    ‘It’s not unknown, my dear,’ Mrs Fitzhugh said. ‘I remember quite a few duels fought on a Sunday.’
    ‘Certainly common