It is a matter of my own and Mulledwiney's.

The fact is, we have had a PERSONAL difficulty." He paused, glanced around him, and continued in a low, agitated voice: "Yesterday I came upon him as he was sitting leaning against the barrack wall.

In a spirit of playfulness--mere playfulness, I assure you, sir--I poked him lightly in the shoulder with my stick, saying 'Boo!' He turned--and I shall never forget the look he gave me." "Good heavens!" I gasped, "you touched--absolutely TOUCHED--Mulledwiney ?" "Yes," he said hurriedly, "I knew what you would say; it was against the Queen's Regulations--and--there was his sensitive nature which shrinks from even a harsh word; but I did it, and of course he has me in his power." "And you have touched him ?" I repeated,--"touched his private honor!" "Yes! But I shall atone for it! I have already arranged with him that we shall have it out between ourselves alone, in the jungle, stripped to the buff, with our fists--Queensberry rules! I haven't fought since I stood up against Spinks Major--you remember old Spinks, now of the Bombay Offensibles ?--at Eton." And the old boy pluckily bared his skinny arm.
"It may be serious," I said.
"I have thought of that.

I have a wife, several children, and an aged parent in England.

If I fall, they must never know.