To the Doctor's astonishment, however, it was the little hunchback who now jumped up and whipped out his sword.
"Run me through!" he almost screamed, dancing before the other and threatening him with absurd flourishes--"Run me through ?" "Listen, gentlemen; listen, before blood is spilt! To me it appears evident that you are both drunk." "To me that seems an advantage, since it equalises matters." "But whichever of you survives, he will be unable to forgive himself; having sinned not only against God, but also against logic." "How against logic ?" "Permit me to demonstrate.

Mrs.Salt, whom (as I well know) you esteemed, is lost to you; and in her place is left a babe whom-- healthy though he undoubtedly is--you cannot possibly esteem without taking a great deal for granted, especially as you have not yet set eyes on him.

Now it is evident that, if one of you should kill the other, a second life of approved worth will be sacrificed for an infant of purely hypothetical merits.

As a man of business I condemn the transaction.

As a Christian I deprecate the shedding of blood.
But if somebody's blood must be shed, let us be reasonable and kill the baby!" Captain Barker lowered his point.
"Decidedly the question is more difficult than I imagined." "At least it cannot be settled before eating," said Dr.Beckerleg, as the drawer entered with a tray.