'Both hands upon the table, my gentleman! I want no pistol balls in my chaise panels.' 'Surely, sir, you do me strange injustice!' said I, now the master of myself.

'You see me sitting here, a monument of tranquillity: pray may I help myself to wine without umbraging you ?' I took this attitude in sheer despair.

I had no plan, no hope.

The best I could imagine was to spin the business out some minutes longer, then capitulate.

At least, I would not capituatle one moment too soon.
'Am I to take that for _no_ ?' he asked.
'Referring to your former obliging proposal ?' said I.