I replied I should go
when and where I pleased; that we were lawful travellers in the
fear of God and the king, and I for one would suffer myself to be
stayed by nobody. At the same time, I was thinking the matter had
lasted altogether too long, and I determined to bring it to an end
at once.
'See here,' said I, getting up, for till now I had remained
carelessly seated, 'there's only one way to decide a thing like
this--only one way that's right ENGLISH--and that's man to man.
Take off your coat, sir, and these gentlemen shall see fair play.'
At this there came a look in his eye that I could not mistake. His
education had been neglected in one essential and eminently British
particular: he could not box. No more could I, you may say; but
then I had the more impudence--and I had made the proposal.
'He says I'm no Englishman, but the proof of the pudding is the
eating of it,' I continued. And here I stripped my coat and fell
into the proper attitude, which was just about all I knew of this
barbarian art. 'Why, sir, you seem to me to hang back a little,'
said I. 'Come, I'll meet you; I'll give you an appetiser--though
hang me if I can understand the man that wants any enticement to
hold up his hands.' I drew a bank-note out of my fob and tossed it
to the landlord. 'There are the stakes,' said I.
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