 - From these different sketches, I concluded that Banter was a
young fellow of some parts, who had spent his fortune, but retained his
appetites, and fallen out with the world because he could not enjoy it to his
wish.
    I went to the Bedford coffee-house in the evening, where I met my friends,
from thence proceeded to the play, and afterwards carried them home to my
lodgings, where we supped with great harmony and satisfaction.
 

                                  Chapter XLIX

I receive a challenge -- the consequences of it -- the quarrel being made up, I
am put in arrest, by the care and affection of Strap - but immediately released
upon explaining my affair -- the behaviour of Mr. Oregan and his two friends --
I visit Melinda, whom I divert with an account of the duel -- I propose marriage
-- she refers the matter to her mother, of whom I make a solemn demand of her
daughter -- the old lady's behaviour -- I am discarded, resent their disdain
 
When I was ready to go abroad next day, Strap brought me a letter, directed To
Mr. Random, Esq; Those. - Which, upon opening, I found contained a challenge,
couched in these very extraordinary terms:
 
        »Sir,
            Whereas, I am informed that you make love to Miss Melinda Goosetrap,
        This is to let you know, that she is under promise of marriage to me;
        and that I am at this present writing, at the back of Montague-house,
        with a pair of good pistols in my hand, and if you will keep your
        appointment, I will make your tongue confess (after the breath is out of
        your body) that you do not deserve her as well as
Yours, etc.
                                                                  Rourk Oregan.«
 
I guessed from the stile and subscription of this billet, that my rival was a
true Milesian, and was not a little uneasy at the contents, especially that
part, where he asserts his right to my mistress by promise, a circumstance I did
not know how to reconcile to her penetration. - However, this was no time for me
to decline the invitation, because the success of my addresses might in a great
measure depend upon my behaviour in that affair. I therefore immediately loaded
my pistols, and betook myself in a hackney-coach to the place appointed, where I
found a tall raw-boned man, with a hard featured countenance, and black bushy
beard, walking by himself, wrapped up in a shabby great coat, over which his own
hair descended in a leathern queue from his
