Phineas Finn: The Irish Member

by Anthony Trollope

"Tell me, Mr. Finn; what happened? What is to be done?" "Nothing is to be done. Everything has been done. I may as well tell you all. I am sure that for the sake of me, as well as of your brother, you will keep our secret. He required that I should either give up my suit, or that I should,—fight him. As I could not comply with the one request, I found myself bound to comply with the other." "And there has been a duel?" "Yes;—there has been a duel. We went over to Belgium, and it was soon settled. He wounded me here in the arm." "Suppose you had killed him, Mr. Finn?" "That, Lady Laura, would have been a misfortune so terrible that I was bound to prevent it." Then he paused again, regretting what he had said. "You have surprised me, Lady Laura, into an answer that I should not have made. I may be sure,—may I not,—that my words will not go beyond yourself?" "Yes;—you may be sure of that." This she said plaintively, with a tone of voice and demeanour of body altogether different from that which she lately bore. Neither of them knew what was taking place between them; but she was, in truth, gradually submitting herself again to this man's influence.