Lord Snape\'s Dilemma

Chapter 10 – The Duel

It all belongs to Rowling, except what you don’t recognize.

Chapter Ten was originally plotted to be the final chaptf thf this story. However, it grew to be too long and so it is put up now as the penultimate chapter and, yes, there’s a cliffhanger. If you want, you can wait for next week and read both halves together. Many thanks for your indulgence! – April


“And ther’s a hand, my trusty friend,
And gie’s a hand o’thine;
We’ll tak’ a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

“For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.”

Hagrid wiped a tear from his eye with his massive finger, “To Harry,” he said as he lifted the enormous tankard to his lips and then wiped the foam from his mouth with the hairy back of his hand.

“Hear, hear,” said Peeves in his nasal high-pitched voice. “Harry you’ve got to understand yer luck. You’re neither fish nor foul. Lord Snape sendin’ you off to college like this is the best thing that could ever of happened to yer. Wellll, let’s drink to his Lordship’s health, too.” He held up his flagon and drank, as did his new wife, Winky who was sitting on his lap. Peeves gave her right breast a squeeze and she giggled.

“And I propose a toast to Lady Snape, a regular out and outer, for her kindness in paying for Peevey and I to be married and honeymooned in style,” said Winky deftly moving Peeves’ hand to her waist.

They all said “Here, here” and drank. Winky blushed and wiggled as her new husband began to nuzzle her neck.

Harry reddened and turned to Hagrid.

“Thanks, everyone. I’m feeling much better now. You’ve all been like my family for so long, that I don’t want to leave you.” He sniffed and wiped his nose on a cloth napkin, having already soaked all his linen handkerchiefs.

“Nao, nao, Harry, they’ll be none of that anymo’. You’ve done sheddin’ those tears. We’re not going anywhere and your home’ll be here always.” id hid himself was about to start crying all over again and he sniffed and wiped his nose into his kerchief. He’d found Harry about 2 hours ago crying himself ill in the root cellar and he’d gotten the boy cleaned up and somewhat decent with a big bowl of venison stew. To improve the boy’s spirits he’d enlisted Peeves and his new wife, who’d just shown up from their honeymoon both limping and sore, to help give Harry a ‘proper’ send off.

Hagrid had just started a country air on his penny whistle when Peeves’ sharp ears picked up a sound from upstairs.

“Uh-oh, they’re back,” said Peeves hastily straightening his jacket. Turning to Winky he asked, “How do I look, Lovey?”

She kissed him on the nose. “Like a spanking new penny, Peevey. Not to worry, I tidied up both downstairs anstaistairs and everything is right as rain.” She smiled. But the smile quickly fled as she heard steps on the stairs. “Oh, Harry, you must hide!”

Harry looked around himself in a panic. The kitchen, now completely refurbished, was whitewashed, had white tiles on the floor where once there was only dirt, and was brightly lit with oil lamps. It offered no shadows to hide in as it used to. He made it halfway to the root cellar when a voice came from above.

“And where are you scampering off to young man?”

Harry looked up and saw Lady McGonagall on the bottom steps. “Oh, nowhere my lady. Just about to run an errand. Just leaving I was,” he said, repeatedly bobbing his head and giving his best idiot servant imitation.

Lady McGonagall squinted at him. “And your name? I haven’t seen you here during my stay.”

“There wouldn’t be a reason to. I’m Lord Snape’s valet, except please don’t tell him I’m here-- I was supposed to leave here earlier but I was delayed.” Harry pushed his fingers through his hair in a nervous gesture and heard a sharp intake of breath from the noblewoman as he exposed his scar.

“And your name is?” Lady McGonagall asked in a strident voice.

“Potter, Harry Potter.” He replied in nearly a whisper

“Like Hell it is. Follow me boy, and Hagrid we’ll be needing a pot of very strong tea and a platter of biscuits, fruit and cheese. It’s going to be a long night.” She swept up the stairs with a very scared Harry following behind her.

Once upstairs, Harry was made to sit down in an armchair in McGonagall’s bedroom. His eyes were wide with terror: first, because he had no idea what this woman wanted of him and secondly, because he knew that Snape would ring a fine peal over him if he founfound to have disobeyed his Lordship about leaving for Oxford. Harry swallowed trying to keep his supper in his stomach and was thankful that he’d had nothing stronger to drink thhandhandy. Hagrid’s homebrewed stout was thrice as strong as the local ale found in the pubs.

Lady McGonagall fixed him with her pale blue eyes, “Well, Mr. so-called Potter, where did you get that scar?”

Harry hunched over in misery. “I don’t remember ma’am.”

“Hmmmm. Very good. Now, where are your parents?” She said with some relish.

“They are dead, Lady McGonagall. But what does this have to do with anything? Am I in trouble?” Harry didn’t think he could take much mo
“
“Aha! Dead. Yes. Do you remember them?” Again there was no sympathy in her voice, and she possessed all the gentleness of a grand inquisitor.

“Yes. My mother was beautiful and my father very big and strong. And they loved me.” Harry blinked away the tears that were forming. “For the love of God, Lady McGonagall, why are you questioning me?”

Lady McGonagall ignored Harry’s plea and stood up, pacing the room. At the knock on the door, she said, “Come in, lay the tray down and leave.” At which point a very curious Peeves came in and winked at Harry behind her back as he put down the tray on her writing table and hastily left. Lady McGonagall continued to pace.

Finally she stopped and stared at him. Then she crossed to him and took his chin firmly in her hands. “You are the spitting image of him.” For the first time there was a hint of sadness in her voice.

“Who, Lady McGonagall?” Harry started to feel a chill go up his spine.

“Tell me how they died.” All emotion disappeared from her voice as she made her demand.

“No.” Harry stood up and started to leave. Lady McGonagall blocked his way.

“Harry, your entire life depends on how you answer this question. Do not think you can trifle with me.” Her eyes sparkled with fanaticism. “Answer me, boy!”

For a few seconds Harry stared at her with his heart racing and then, almost against his will, hesed sed his eyes and yelled, “Stand and deliver! He said, ‘Stand and deliver!’” And Harry crumbled in a heap to the ground, holding his hands to his forehead.

Lady McGonagall knelt by him, put her hands on his trembling shoulders and, squeezing firmly, she said, “Continue!”

In a small, childlike voice Harry said, “I was in the coach with Mummy and Daddy. It stopped. It was dark outside: we’d been traveling from the city to our home. My father asked the coachman what was the delay. He said a tree limb and then the whole night lit up for a second like a flash of lightening and there was a loud bang. I didn’t know it at the time, but it was a pistol shot. I was scared. My father leapt out of the coach and I hear a man say ‘Stand and deliver’. There was another flash and a loud sound and my mother screamed, ‘James’.” Harry turned his face to the elderly woman. “No more, my Lady, don’t force me to tell.” He groveled on the floor, tears streaming and his entire body shaking.

McGonagall got up and made Harry a cup of tea liberally laced with brandy from her silver flask. He took one sip and then coughed. McGonagall raised him to his feet. “Sit down in this chaid cod continue.” Her face again was frozen and hard.

“Mummy insisted on going out. I was scared, I hontoonto her, but shnt ont out and I heard her beg for my life, and then, the flash of light and the crack of the pistol. That’s when the man came. I remember that he had long blond hair and gleaming eyes like the devil’s own. He tried to pick m, bu, but I bit him and he hit me-- hard. I was only 4 years old but I knew what had gone on. I wanted to stay with my parents but he took me on his horse. By the light of the moon, I saw my parents on the ground, lying in pools of black blood. The man took me to an orphanage.”

“What is your full name, Harry?” McGonagall asked quietly.

“Potter. Lord Snape named me Potter.”

“What is your name, Harry?” McGonagall’s voice was still quiet but the look on her face was fierce.

“Evans, I’m Harry Evans,” he said in obvious pain.

“And why didn’t you tell anyone who you were?” McGonagall drove him on.

“I was scared that the man would come back and kill me, too.” He said this while staring into the distance in horror, at what-- Lady McGonagall could only imagine. “For six months, I didn’t talk to nary a soul, except to tell them my name was Harry. Then Lord Snape came along. I wanted him to be my new daddy.” Harry started crying again.

“STOP that caterwaulering, boy! Don’t you know who you are? You are Harry Evans, the Marquis of Gryffindor, and it’s about time you started acting like him!”

Harry continued to sob. Lady McGonagall watched while sipping her tea. She shook her head; obviously Snape had spoiled the child. She’d have to take a very firm hand with her grandnephew. After a few minutes she decided to take his mind off of whatever internal horrors he was experiencing. “So how did Lord Snape come to call you Potter?”

“What milady?” Harry looked up surprised.

“I don’t see you as having a hearing problem,” she said co.
.

“Lord Snape had once met a little girl with green eyes like mine. Her name was…”

“Lily Potter, my niece. Interesting. I never told him the story of their deaths and he probably had even forgotten where he met her.”

Harry, the Marquis of Gryffindor looked up with curiosity replacing his pain. “He used to play with my mother?”

“My child, it was well over thirty years ago. The Snapes’ carriage had broken an axust ust outside my estate. I allowed him and his parents to stay with me until a new carriage could be rented and brought round. My niece just happened to be staying with me that summer and they hit it off. It was only for a few hours time and then they went on their not-so-merry way. His mother was a lovely lady, but it was obvious his father was a difficult man who brutalized his family. That was the last I had heard of them until I was re-introduced to Lord Severus Snape by a mutual acquaintance two years back. Snape was able to do me a favor, for which I offered to help him in return, if he should ever need it.”

“And so when he needed someone with contacts in the Ton…”

Lady McGonagall beamed, “He came to me to ensure that Hermione would be both acceptable and accepted by Le Beau Monde. And obviously, I will have my work cut out with you.” She glared at him.

Just then there was the sound of a woman’s scream from down the hall. “Lady Snape!” Harry stood up and was about to rescue her when Lady McGonagall raised her hand. “Si “Sit down, they are newlyweds, you’ll understand one day my boy. We have too much to discuss to allow distractions.” She walked over and began cutting herself a thin slice of cheese from a large wedge of Stilton. “It will not be easy having you re-instated to your title and lands. Do you still have a birthmark the shape of Scotland on your left hip?”

Harry gaped at her. “How did you know?”

“Confound it, boy, are you thick?” And, for the first time, cracks started to show in her steely countenance, “You used to run around naked as a jaybird when you were a babe. I’d change you too, when the Nanny would allow me. You had no Grandmother, but you had me.” Her eyes misted over. “Now come here and give your Grandaunt a hu
J
Just then there were sounds of yelling and furniture being toppled. Harry gave her a cautious and perfunctory hug. And then he looked at his Grandaunt, incredulous that he was not to interfere. Doors slammed and then there was silence again. “It looks like their marriage is off to a fine start. I was worried there for a while, but it does seem there is a fire in the grate after all,” said Lady McGonagall smugly as she bite into a hot house apricot.

Harry felt nervous, not having a clue as to what the old noblewoman was about. For a moment he wondered if she could possibly be having him on, or e wae was daft. “Begging your pardon, Auntie,” the Marquis looked for approval on the new appellation and received it with a nod of her head. “How did I get this scar?”

“Ah, that is an interesting story. Your cousin, Dudley, who is about a year older than yourself, found a horseshoe nail and scratched for forehead with it. A raging infection set in and for a while we thought we would lose you. The scratch scarred in a very nasty way, but I daresay you are probably stronger for it. You were only a few months old at the time.”

Harry reflected on his Auntie’s peculiar philosophy, which seemed to be comprised of the belief that anything that did not kill you must necessarily make you stronger. For a momentworrworried that per he he had jumped from a very hot frying pan into an even hotter fire. Snape was a hard man but this woman seemed to be much harder still. He sipped the rapidly cooling brandy-laced tea and felt himself to be in shock and emotionally drained from a day of horrendous surprises. He longed to crawl into his bed in the servant’s quarters, a nasty, thin matressed little bed that bore no resemblance at all to the lush feather bed that he’d grown up with as Snape’s charge. He realized that Snape had been manipulating him all along to accept his place at Oxford with relief. Harry sighed, well at least that was not going to happen, he thought. The Marquis of Gryffindor was not going to be a parson!

He actually felt well enough to slice himself an apple and some cheddar to go with it. He heard Snape’s door slam and his former master’s strong, angry stride head down the hallway and down the stairs. Minutes later a new ruckus arose as he heard Ginny’s terrified voice yelling for Hermione to open her door. Harry poked his head out just as a teary, red-nosed Hermione did.

Ginny took in both their appearances and quickly wondered if they had come down with sudden illnesses, as their appearance was quite the same. “Thank Goodness, I have both you here!” she cried. At which point Lady McGonagall joined them, making it a foursome. “Lord Snape has gone quite mad. I was feeling rather peckish so I went down for a little refreshment in the kitchen. I had just come up into the hallway when his Lordship nearly barreled me over. He showed me that he had a case with a pair of pearl handled pistols and a pair of swords…”

“Epee or saber?” interjected Harry.

“What?” asked a confused Ginny.

“Epee has a sharp point, he uses that when he plans to maim or kill his opponent. The saber has a long cutting edge, then he just wants to mark him up.”

“Oh for Goodness sake, Harry,” said a near hysterical Hermione, “what does it matter? Ginny, did he tell you where he was going?”

“He said that he was going to Whites to call out my… er… Malfoy and that his one death would be quite the bargain for having damaged two females under his care.”

“Hmm. What could he have possibly be speaking about?” said Lady McGonagall giving both girls a fishy look.

Hermione wasn’t going to step into that one and quickly said, “Harry, we must stop him. Shall we go to Whites?”

He looked at her like she was being ridiculous. “It wouldn’t do you much good if you did. Whites doesn’t allow women inside.”

“It would be very bad Ton,” sniffed Lady McGonagall. “We’ll simply have to catch up with them at the dueling site this dawn.”

“You are not coming with us,” stated Hermione with a stubborn set to her mouth.

“Impossible, dear child, you cannot go without a chaperon!” said the elder woman with gritty determination. “You would be ruined for life!” She waited to see if Hermione would buck her authority. When she saw that her plan wccepccepted, she continued, “I’ll wake up that disgusting heathen, Filch, and let him know to prepare the coach to take us there. I assume they haven’t changed the duelling location.”

“Not these past fifty years, dear Auntie,” said Harry with a grim look as both girls stared at Harry. He turned to Ginny, “You should stay behind and wait for us to bring him home. I hate to say this but Snape’s not a good shot. There’s a weakness in his arm muscle that makes his aim go astray every time.”

“And Malfoy?” asked Hermione, her voice quavering.

“Malfoy’s an expert shot, at best we can hope for is Lord Snape receiving a flesh wound. We’ll need to have a surgeon on hand.”

“Harry, no surgeon. I’ve helped my mother patch up many a free trader who has come on the wrong side of the law and been shot. I’ll go get my kit.” She was pale but all signs of hysteria were well past. “Ginny, if you are here with boiling water and freshly made bandages, his chances will be vastly increased. Remember ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness’. Wash your hands and wash everything with soap. Boil the bandages after you have made them and then dry them carefully in the oven. Don’t let them touch anything!” Ginny ran downstairs to ask Winky for some sheets.

Hermione was astounded at how she had suddenly been parroting her own mother. Her mother! “Harry can you send a very fast messenger for my mother to come to town? I’ll dash off a note letting her know the situation.”

Harry nodded, “I’ll be right on it.”

“Good,” said Lady McGonagall. “And I shall take a quick nap after alerting Filch. Be sure to wake me in an hour, my boy” she put her hand to Harry’s shoulder, knowing that he would dare not disobey her. With that, the noblewoman started up theirs irs to the servants’ quarters.

Harry and Hermione suddenly found themselves alone in the hallway. “You should have been nice to him,” said Harry bitterly.

Hermione stared, “What do you mean?”

“You had to have done something to set him off. He’s very sensitive.” He frowned, not sure what he really wanted to say except to make her hurt as much as he was hurting.

Hermione said quietly, “He insulted my honour, if you must know.”

“Well, sometimes, I think you have a rather strange notion of honour.” He turned away from her, feeling at lose ends.

Hermione grabbed his arm, “Listen here, I am sorry. I know how much you love him and I love him too. You’ve known him almost your entire life, but I had no idea he’d do something likis, is, or of course, I would have stopped him.” She shook him gently until he turned around and his eyes met hers. “Do you understand, Harry?”

Slowly he accepted her apology. He swallowed and then hugged her. She returned his embrace. “We’ll get through this and so will his Lordship,” Hermione said as she pulled away. “I’ll come along with the note for my mother in a moment.”

“Right, I’ll go see how Ginny is doing with the sheets.”

Harry found Ginny sitting on a sofa in the pur rur ripping the bed sheets that Winky had given her. She looked up at him and sadly smiled, “I was wondering, Harry, why did you call Lady McGonagall ‘Auntie’?”

“Oh Miss Weasley-- Ginny, it’s amazing news, I clean forgot to tell anyone,” he sat down beside her. “I’m not Harry Potter, at all. I’m Harry Evans.”

Ginny went pale and covered her mouth, “Don’t say that! Oh Harry.”

“What is it?”

“It would be too much of a coincidence if your parentre Jre James and Lily Evans?” she looked at him hopefully.

“But they were James and Lily! What is this about?” asked a very perplexed Harry.

“Oh dear, dear Harry. I know how they died and who killed them!” tears sprung to Ginny’s eyes and she threw her arms around Harry’s neck.


&&&

Malfoy was sprawled in an overstuffed chair and was enjoying his second brandy when he discovered a very angry Lord Snape towering over him.

“My dear Snape, to what do I owe this supreme pleasure?” drawled Malfoy.

“I think you know. I’m here to call you out,” Snape said in a flat tone of voice. He didn’t bother sneering; he was well past the niceties at this point. His rage had already bubbled over and he was left feeling as cold as the crypt inside.

Malfoy tapped his finger against the glass. “Oh dear, oh dear. What could I have done to so upset my dear old friend? Well, maybe we can avoid any unpleasantness by my apologizing…” his words were cut short by Snape’s glove hitting his jaw. Malfoy looked up unpleasantly, “You know I might have just as much to complain about you.” He looked at Snape slyly.

“Really,” said a voice coming from a wing chair by the fire. Slowly and painfully, Sir Remus Lupin got up and hobbled on his cane to the pair. “I was tempted to call you out myself, Malfoy, on behalf of my cousin.” He turned to Snape, “I’m very glad to see that Hermione told you about the blackmail.”

Snape kept his face expressionless. “Yes, blackmail,” he said, as his mind spun over the vast implications of what he’d just been told.

“But I thought you said he slandered her?” a a c a confused red-haired man standing just behind Snape.

“And this delightful chap is?” asked Malfoy with a raised eyebrow.

“I am Squire Weasley, Lord Snape’s second and the father to the young lady who you, you—“ Weasley did not continue as he had become choked with his own emotions.

“Ah yes, the corky, delicious Miss Ginny Weasley. What a tempting armful! So how are you finding her Snape?” asked Malfoy his voice thick with salacious innuendo.

“I am finding that not a court in the world will rule against me after I have killed you, Malfoy,” said Snape as he quirked a cold smile. “However, I would like to know why you chose to play my family so foul.”

Malfoy uncoiled himself from his seat and stood toe to toe with Snape. Without breaking eye contact he held up his left forearm and pointed to it. “You know what is there. You have its brother on your own arm. You came to me, wanted to be part of Lord Voldemort’s great plan. I gave you introduction and you betrayed us both.” Malfoy spat in Snape’s face and then calmly walked away while saying with sang froid, “As the man challenged, I choose pistols-- at dawn at the usual place with Weasley’s approval?” The Squire gave a quick nod. “Good. I’m off to get my second. It will be my pleasure to attend your funeral, Snape. Be seeing you, la.”

As Snape wiped away the spittle with his handkerchief, Lupin looked around him, “Well, we do have a couple of hours to kill. What say we head back to my chambers fondwindwiches and a few rounds of Piquet?”

&&&

A rosy dawn broke with little event. Five men stood on a lawn surrounded by willows. Mist, springing from the dew on the ground, roiled about their legs.

Sir Lucius Malfoy stood apart with his second, Walden Macnair. The other three, Lord Severus Snape, his cousin, Sir Remus Lupin, and Squire Arthur Weasley, Snape’s second, stood in a semi-circle watching the two men.

“Well, the Code Duello requires that we must check to see if either will apologize,” started Weasley.

“What kind of muttonhead second have you there, Snape?” called out Malfoy. “This is to the death, you ninny!”

Snape swallowed and nodded. “He’s right Weasley. There are no apologies allowed because I struck Malfoy. And this probably will be to the death, we each get two shots if need be. Of course as second, you might work things out with Macnair.”

Macnair shook his head. “I’m in the mood to taste death myself today. Won’t bother me none to shoot a hole or two,” he said taciturnly.

“Tare an’ hounds, there havehave it, Weasley. You only thought you knew what you were getting into. There’s still time to back out,” said Malfoy with a sneer.

“Squire Weasley, you have a large family to look after, I’ll be Snape’s second.” Lupin looked to Snape for approval.

“Fine by me,” he snorted Snape, “just let’s get going.” He strode into the centre of the lawn. Malfoy did the same and they stood back to back.

“Distance?” asked Malfoy.

“Ten paces should do it,” said Snape tersely.

“Sure you don’t want twenty? I could kill you just as well at twenty, and from what I hear you’re such a pathetic shot, it won’t matter none.”

“How kind of you,” Snape retorted. “Ten will be sufficient.”

“As you wish,” said Malfoy gallantly. “It’s your funeral.”

Macnair snorted loudly at the jest. “Well, if you two have stopped cooing at each other,” said Macnair, “we’ll on on with it. One.” Both men took a step. “Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten.”

Lupin took it upon himself to handle the next part. “You may fire at will.”

Snape thought about Harry and how angry he’d been with him at their parting, likewise how angry he’d been with Hermione when last he saw her. He’d made a cake of himself with both of them: he laughed at himself, thinking he’d just never been very good with people, especially the ones he loved, had he? Mentally he made his goodbyes to them both and turned around to face Malfoy. He lifted his arm straight out before him and it immediately started to wobble from the weakness in his arm. He listened to both Malfoy and Macnair laughing at him. He swallowed and pulled the trigger. Time seemed to slow down and drift away. The shot went off and when the smoke finally cleared Malfoy was still standing, still laughing, and totally uninjured.

To his right, Snape vaguely noted the sound of a coach. He didn’t bother turning to it but kept his eyes fixed on Malfoy. Malfoy casually lifted his pistol and fired. Something that felt like a mule kicked Snape in the chest and then there was a searing white-hot pain. He fell to the ground, darkness descended and he knew no more.

tbc

Please Read and Review!!!

A/N: Big hugs and thanks to my reviewers: MoD, Lacy, Dame Niahm, Klo, Ezmerelda, Croft, Amethyst and Psychotikitten.

Cant Glossary:

Regular out and outer = Person of high spirit, awake on every suit, and with enviable abilities

Ring a fine peal over someone = yell at someone, scold someone

Stand and Deliver = Phrase used by 18th Century highwaymen (mostly used in literature I’m afraid)

Corky = Bright and lively

Tempting armful = Attractive female

Piquet = A card game

Tare an’ Hounds = An exclamation

Make a cake of oneself = Make a fool of self


Further Notes:

Lyrics to Auld Lang Syne
http://hometown.aol.com/shelltee1/lyrics.html

I lived in Scotland for three years and sang Auld Lang Syne many times without having a bloody idea of what I was singing. Here is a copy in translation:

Auld Lang Syne (in translation)
Should old friends be forgotten
and never remembered
Should old friends be forgotten
and the days they shared together

Chorus
For days now in the past, my dear
For days now in the past
We\'ll drink a toast of kind remembrance
For days now in the past

You can pay for your pint tankard
and I will pay for mine
We\'ll drink a toast of kind remembrance
For days now in the past

We two have run about the hillsides
and pulled wild daisies
but now we are far apart in distance
From those days now in the past

We two have paddled in the stream
from morning until noon
but oceans now lie between us
since those days now in the past

So take my hand, my trusty friend
and give me your hand
and we will take a hearty drink together
In memory of those days now in the past
http://www.tamoshanter.free-online.co.uk/Auldls.htm

I have based the duel in this story on whatever I could figure out from the Rules of Dueling that were originated in 1777 and still in use at the time of this story. I may have made quite a few errors in my ignorance of how these things actually went. I have rted ted below the rules which seemed applicable to Lord Snape’s circumstances.

Code Duello: The Rules of Dueling 1777

The Code Duello, covering the practice of dueling and point of honor, was drawn up and settled at Clonmel Summer Assizes, 1777, by gentlemen-delegates of Tipperary, Galway, Sligo, Mayo and Roscommon, and prescribed for general adoption throughout Ireland. The Code was generally also followed in England and on the Continent with some slight variations. In America, the principal rules were followed, although occasionally there were some glaring deviations.

Rule 6. If A gives B the lie, and B retorts by a blow (being the two greatest offenses), no reconciliation can take place till after two discharges each, or a severe hit; after which B may beg A\'s pardon humbly for the blow and then A may explain simply for the lie; because a blow is never allowable, and the offense of the lie, therefore, merges in it. (See preceding rules.)

Rule 10. Any insult to a lady under a gentleman\'s care or protection to be considered as, by one degree, a greater offense than if given to the gentleman personally, and to be regulated accordingly

Rule 14. Seconds to be of equal rank in society with the principals they attend, inasmuch as a second may either choose or chance to become a principal, and equality is indispensable

Rule ChalChallenges are never to be delivered at night, unless the party to be challenged intend leaving the place of offense before morning; for it is desirable to avoid all hot-headed proceedings.

Rule 16. The challenged has the right to choose his own weapon, unless the challenger gives his honor he is no swordsman; after which, ver,ver, he can decline any second species of weapon proposed by the challenged.

Rule 17. The challenged chooses his ground; the challenger choosis dis distance; the seconds fix the time and terms of firing.

Rule 18. The seconds load in presence of each other, unless they give their mutual honors they have charged smooth and single, which should be held sufficient.

Rule 19. Firing may be regulated -- first by signal; secondly, by word of command; or thirdly, at pleasure -- as may be agreeable to the parties. In the latter case, the parties may fire at their reasonable leisure, but second presents and rests are strictly prohibited.

http://www.piratedocuments.com/pirates/code_duello.htm


Wonderful article on Regency women as shown in novels of that period:
“Female Self-Treatment: Preventive Medical Regimes, Piety, and the Novels of Frances Burney, Elizabeth Hamilton, and Elizabeth Helme\"
by Catherine H. Decker, Ph.D.
http://hal.ucr.edu'cathy/sandtext.html

Something I just learned: Baroness Orczy wrote sequels to The Scarlet Pimpernel!!!!
I must read them all!!!!
http://hal.ucr.edu'cathy/sp.html
BTW, I did see the Broadway production of The Scarlet Pimpernel and loved it!