Page:Modern literature (1804 Volume 1).djvu/321

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to add a subsidiary message. The esquire having read the letter; "And so," says he, "master Mortimer refuses the challenge?" "But," says Hamilton, "he states his reasons and determination."—"Pretty reasons: cowardice; don't you think so, Clump?" turning to his groom, who had continued in the room. "Before," said our hero, "Mr. Clump has the trouble of delivering his sentiments, I have to ask simply, Will you apologize in the required manner?" "I'll be d—d if I do." "That's right," said the groom, "don't be timbersome." "Then I have farther to inform you, that Mr. John Mortimer will, in half an hour, be in the public room, in this inn, to cane you, if you dare appear there; and that he will repeat the same discipline in every public place where you dare appear, to teach you the manners befitting such a person as you, if admitted into