"I did say I want to fuck her," Elmer said. That had been stupid, even if he was annoying Reuben Crouch was the one making a fuss about it. If it had been any other Crouch, he wouldn't have used that language to begin with.

"And it's over. She wrote to me saying she doesn't want us to keep talking, so he's told her everything. If I back down, she will forever think me a terrible person. With this duel I have a chance to repent."