I do not wish to kill you.

Guard!" My opponent did not lift his sword, but smilingly said:-- "Then why do you insist upon fighting?
I certainly do not wish to kill you.

In truth, I would be inclined to like you if you were not a Vernon." "Damn your insolence! Guard! or I will run you through where you stand," I answered angrily.
"But why do we fight ?" insisted the stubborn fellow, with a coolness that showed he was not one whit in fear of me.
"You should know," I replied, dropping my sword-point to the floor, and forgetting for the moment the cause of our quarrel.

"I--I do not." "Then let us not fight," he answered, "until we have discovered the matter of our disagreement." At this remark neither of us could resist smiling.

I had not fought since months before, save for a moment at the gates of Dundee, and I was loath to miss the opportunity, so I remained in thought during the space of half a minute and remembered our cause of war.
"Oh! I recall the reason for our fighting," I replied, "and a good one it was.