Aldous had two principal hopes:

1. That his brother would realize the error of his ways, and,
   
2. That he would arrive before Aldous spent all night staring into his half-empty brandy wondering why he didn't just storm the Swallowbury house.

The latter, at least, bore fruit when Reuben arrived not long after Aldous had sent his missive.

"A duel?!" he demanded incredulously, though he did not rise from his seat—he was too riled up to risk the imbalance.