It is my business to be private.

I wish you a very good night.' The attorney longed to refer to the coming meeting, and to his sincere hope that his new patron would leave the ground unscathed.

But a duel was so alien from the lawyer's walk in life, that he knew nothing of the punctilios, and he felt a delicacy.

Tamely to wish a man a safe issue seemed to be a common compliment incommensurate with the occasion; and a bathos.

So, after a moment of hesitation, he gathered up his papers, and tip-toed out of the room with an absurd exaggeration of respect, and a heart bounding jubilant under his flapped waistcoat.
Left to himself, Sir George heaved a sigh, and, resting his head on his hand, stared long and gloomily at the candles.