"Remember," cried Willoughby, "from whom you received the account. Could it be an impartial one? . . .

One person I was sure would represent me as capable of anything."

It's interesting here to go back and read how Brandon did represent Willoughby, and the answer is "with remarkable restraint." Considering all that Willoughby had done, Brandon would have been within his rights to heap imprecations upon Willoughby, yet we see comments on how he did hope that Marianne might have been able to improve him and Brandon giving the benefit of the doubt that Willoughby may have intended to ask Marianne to marry him if not for the financial aspect. This is not to mention that (as pointed out in an earlier thread) Willoughby is lucky to be alive after that duel. Yet even now Willoughby cannot resist taking shots at Brandon. This above all other things convinces me that Brandon come off the better in the duel---if things had gone to Willoughby's advantage he would not have been able to resist bragging about it, risk of arrest or no.

Brandon is a gentleman and would be one if reduced to poverty. Willoughby is not and never will be, no matter the state of his finances.

Now, where did I put that horsewhip . . . ? ;-)