I have, therefore, made up my mind never to meet a man except upon what I consider fair terms; for when a man stakes his life, the gambling becomes rather serious, and an equal value should be laid down by each party.

If, then, a man is not so big--not of equal consequence in the consideration of his fellow-mites--not married, with five small children, as I am--not having so much to lose,--why, it is clear that I risk more than he does; the stake is not equal, and I therefore shall not meet him.

If, on the contrary, he presents a broader target--if he is my superior in rank, more patriarchal at home, or has so many hundreds per annum more--why, then the disadvantages will be on his side; and I trust I am too much of a gentleman, even if he offers to waive all these considerations, to permit him to fight.

It would be _swindling_ the man out of his life.
The best advice I can offer to my friends under these unpleasant circumstances is, first to try if they cannot persuade their adversaries to make an apology: and if they will not, why, then, let them make one themselves; for although the making an apology creates a very uneasy sensation, and goes very much _against_ the stomach, yet, depend upon it, a well-directed bullet creates a much more uneasy feeling, and, what is worse, goes _directly into it_.
We left Mrs Sullivan sobbing in her anger, when her husband bounded out of the room in his heroics.

At the time that he made the threat she was in no humour to regard it; but as her anger gradually subsided, so did her alarm increase.