They were not long, on the present occasion, ere they lighted on a fertile source of controversy.
"Never tell me of your points of honour," said Touchwood, raising his voice altogether above the general tone of polite conversation--"all humbug, Captain MacTurk--mere hair-traps to springe woodcocks--men of sense break through them." "Upon my word, sir," said the Captain, "and myself is surprised to hear you--for, look you, sir, every man's honour is the breath of his nostrils--Cot tamn!" "Then, let men breathe through their mouths, and be d--d," returned the controversialist.

"I tell you, sir, that, besides its being forbidden, both by law and gospel, it's an idiotical and totally absurd practice, that of duelling.

An honest savage has more sense than to practise it--he takes his bow or his gun, as the thing may be, and shoots his enemy from behind a bush.

And a very good way; for you see there can, in that case, be only one man's death between them." "Saul of my body, sir," said the Captain, "gin ye promulgate sic doctrines amang the good company, it's my belief you will bring somebody to the gallows." "Thank ye, Captain, with all my heart; but I stir up no quarrels--I leave war to them that live by it.

I only say, that, except our old, stupid ancestors in the north-west here, I know no country so silly as to harbour this custom of duelling.