Pray why was your hand on your sword ?" "Because the gentleman's pistol was in his hand, sir." "You appear always to be very ready for a quarrel, Mr Dale," said the Duke, with a glance at Carford.

"Pray, what's the dispute ?" "I'll tell your Grace the whole matter," said I readily enough, for I had nothing to blame myself with.
"No, I won't have it told," cried M.de Fontelles.
"It's my pleasure to hear it," said the Duke coldly.
"Well, sir, it was thus," said I, with a candid air.

"I protested to this gentleman that my French was sadly to seek; he was polite enough to assure me that I spoke it well.

Upon this I owned to some small knowledge, and for an example I said to him, '_J'aime, tu aimes, il aime_.' He received the remark, sir, with the utmost amiability." "He could do no less," said the Duke with a smile.
"But he would have it that this didn't exhaust my treasure of learning.
Therefore, after leaving me for a moment to set straight a difference that had arisen between his servants and our host, he returned, put away a leathern case that he had left on the table (concerning which indeed he seemed more uneasy than would be counted courteous here in England, seeing that I had been all the while alone in the room with it), and allowed me to resume my exhibition of French-speaking.

To humour him and to pass away the hour during which I was deprived of the pleasure of attending your Grace----" "Yes, yes, Mr Dale.