] Duels were illegal in those times, and in order to fight the participants would have had to go to a quiet location, (snip)

The explanatory notes in my S&S say:

Duelling was illegal except between soldiers where it was authorized by the British Military Code until 1844. It remained, however, throughout the eighteenth century a not uncommon method of deciding points of honour between gentlemen. In the case of one of the participants being killed the survivor was guilty of murder, and a duellist was executed as late as 1808.

Lose the duel and die, win the duel and get executed! Nice expectations!