] Maybe a hasty bow, but he'd be out of there in a Combe Magna minute - and before Brandon had a chance to offer him a choice of swords or pistols at dawn, again :)

Yes if they've taken each other out before (and I've always suspected what happened in that initial duel... whether Willoughby just high-tailed and ran!), I think Col Brandon would just stand and give him a cold stare, and Willoughby would run.

Either that, or he'd start his whimpering confession and Col Brandon would challenge his honour and his gentlemanly conduct on every point, Elinor would not be his dupe and Willoughby would leave quite a broken man :P all the better for him methinks