Arthur Mervyn, page 99 by Charles Brockden Brown
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rn aside the weapon. I did not shudder at the spectacle, or shrink from his approaching hand. With fingers clasped together, and eyes fixed upon the floor, I waited till his fury was exhausted. He continued:--
"'All passed in a few hours. The elopement of his daughter,--the death of his son. O my father! Most loved and most venerable of men! To see thee changed into a maniac! Haggard and wild! Deterred from outrage on thyself and those around thee by fetters and stripes! What was it that saved me from a like fate? To view this hideous ruin, and to think by whom it was occasioned! Yet not to become frantic like thee, my father; or not destroy myself like thee, my brother! My friend!--
"'No. For this hour was I reserved; to avenge your wrongs and mine in the blood of this ungrateful villain.'
"'There,' continued he, producing a second pistol, and tendering it to me,--'there is thy defence. Take we opposite sides of this table, and fire at the same instant.'
"During this address I was motionless. He tendered the pistol, but I unclasped not my hands to receive it.
"'Why do you hesitate?' resumed he. 'Let the chance between us be equal, or fire you first.'
"'No,' said I, 'I am ready to die by your hand. I wish it. It will preclude the necessity of performing the office for myself. I have injured you, and merit all that your vengeance can inflict. I know your nature too well to believe that my death will be perfect expiation. When the gust of indignation is past, the remembrance of your deed will only add to your sum of misery; yet I do not love you well enough to wish that you would forbear. I desire to die, and to die by another's hand rather than my own.'
"'Coward!' exclaimed Watson, with augmented vehemence, 'you know me too well to believe me capable of assassination. Vile subterfuge! Contemptible plea! Take the pistol and defend yourself. You want not the power or the will; but, knowing that I spurn at murder, you think your safety will be found in passivene