THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



which, in those days, was too often celebrated with Baccha- 

 nalian rites in the evening — interrupted the harmony of a 

 party at w^hich our hero made one; and, as was likewise too 

 often the custom of those days, for the honour of Tippcrary, 

 an apology for the offence by the aggressor was declined. A 

 meeting, then, was necessarily the consequence ; and our hero, 

 having placed his honour in the hands of an officer of the 

 Guards with whom he became intimate at Melton, was himself, 

 the next morning, placed in array to his antagonist at the 

 distance of twelve paces. On the word 'Fire' being given, 

 the Irishman fired in the air; and — as was evident to both 

 seconds — the pistol of his opponent having been so pointed as 

 to render it impossUde the ball could take effect, it was, of 

 course, a bloodless affair. 



' Now, Mr. Raby,' said the Irishman, ' I am ready to take 

 your hand, and declare, upon the honour of a gentleman, that 

 I regret having given you offence.' Anger, like th-^ bee, says 

 Seneca, should sting but once. Our hero took his hand and 

 pressed it, adding, emphatically, these words : — 



' My good fellow, let us think no more of what has happened ; 

 you have done and said all that I could desire.' 



The conduct of Frank Raby was highly approved of on this 

 occasion, having shown himself to be a man of courage, tem- 

 pered with humanity, which, after all, is the only true 

 courage,^ as possessing that nice sensibility of honour which 

 weighs the insult, rather than the injury; willing to accept of 

 the slightest atonement for either, and totally incapable of 

 revenge. The situation, however, in which he had placed 

 himself (for his antagonist was a first-rate shot), without the 

 effort to defend himself, and of course ignorant of the intentions 

 of his opponent, became a subject of admiration amongst his 

 associates ; and on the arrival of Hargrave, a few days after- 

 wards on a visit to him, the following conversation took place, 

 on their road to meet the hounds : — 



' I have heard a good deal said,' observed Hargrave, ' on 

 the subject of your afiair with the Irishman : the Melton 

 men — at least many of them — think you let him off too 

 cheaply ; that is to say, you, who were the aggrieved, ran the 



^ The Greeks used tlie word "Aperrj to express both what we call valour and 

 virtue. 



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