I found my
antagonist had already taken his ground, wrapped in a dark
horseman's coat, with a laced hat flapped over his eyes; but what
was my astonishment, when, throwing off this wrapper, he appeared
to be a person whom I had never seen before! He had one pistol
stuck in a leather belt, and another in his hand ready for
action, and, advancing a few steps, called to know if I was
ready -- I answered, 'No,' and desired a parley; upon which he
turned the muzzle of his piece towards the earth; then replaced
it in his belt, and met me half way -- When I assured him he was
not the man I expected to meet, he said it might be so: that he
had received a slip of paper directed to Mr Wilson, requesting
him to come hither; and that as there was no other in the place
of that name, he naturally concluded the note was intended for
him, and him only -- I then gave him to understand,
that I had been injured by a person who assumed that name, which
person I had actually seen within the hour, passing through the
street on horseback; that hearing there was a Mr Wilson at the
Red Lion, I took it for granted he was the man, and in that
belief had writ the billet; and I expressed my surprize, that he,
who was a stranger to me and my concerns, should give me such a
rendezvous, without taking the trouble to demand a previous
explanation.
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