153 
curious statements on this small business. Arriving at Lille, 
says Moore, Mr. Linley found the fugitives and took both back, 
“they set off amicably together,” or as Mrs. H. Lefanu. from 
whom this is taken, writes—‘‘The whole party set out together 
the next day” Then again* we are told Sheridan arrived at 
Bath (whither he travelled with Miss Linley and her father), &c. 
Mrs. H. Lefanu goes one better, she writes—on arrival from the 
Continent Sheridan found Mathews was in London, &c., he left 
Miss Linley with her father at the hotel, and with pistols went to 
Mathews, who was surprised and alarmed at seeing him. This is 
too much even for the last biographer, who felt bound to remark 
that Mathews could hardly have been surprised as he must have 
expected something of the sort sooner or later. Dr. Watkin’s 
account, written fortunately without the aid of Lefanu, says more 
truly, the damsel was “ conveyed to England by her father, followed 
by her lover.” Thus Mrs. Lefanu is wrong, they did not return 
together nor did they proceed to Bath together. The next 
“narrative will explain and clear these points and show the value 
of Mrs. Lefanu’s facts. 
_ Here, then, Sheridan can tell his own story. He sayst he 
arrived in London at nine o’clock at night (¢.¢., on friday, rst 
May). He had spent the previous night at Canterbury, and 
there is no mention of anybody being with him. He had learned 
hat Mathews had spoken disrespectfully of him during his 
absence, and now about ten o’clock, hearing that Mathews was 
in town he resolved, with national impetuosity, to call upon him that 
What he did for the next two hours is not in evidence, 
; it at half-past twelve at night he appeared at the house in 
( Ct tched Friars where Mathews was lodging, pistols in pocket, 
to demand satisfaction. It is here Mrs. Lefanu makes out that 
he was surprised and alarmed. Surprised he might well be, 
but alarmed certainly not. As the door was locked, the house 
* Moore. + Rae, p. 17g. Moore, p. 54. 
