A voice rings out across McGonagal’s Writers Café. ‘It’s the
cat stupid.’
Malvolio Claxendell hurls this accusation at Yevgeny
Huxtable who is morosely finishing his macchiato.
In the middle ages the duel arrived in Britain with the
influx of Italian honour and courtesy literature (notably Book of the Courtier
by Baldassare Castiglione). This stressed the need to protect one's reputation
and social mask and prescribed the circumstances under which an insulted party
should issue a challenge. However it is rare today, even in Seven Dials.
Nevertheless, Claxendell throws down his gauntlet, and Huxtable does not
hesitate to pick it up. ‘If you’ve touched a hair on the head on my Charisma
you’re a dead man.’ Claxendell smiles
grimly. ‘Too late!’
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