Here was his chance to avoid an intentionally fatal duel without looking like a coward, provided he chose his words carefully. "As much as I'd love a front row seat at your funeral my liberty, career, and social standing aren't worth sacrificing for the likes of you." Dueling at all was still a risk but it was easier to keep it secret if there wasn't a corpse to deal with. Macnair's suddenly got a funny limp was far less interesting than Macnair is missing or suddenly died under mysterious circumstances, people would look into it, if it wasn't masterfully covered up then law enforcement would inevitably stick their noses in and never mind the vengeful family members. Too many people would notice and too many people might piece the answer together. "As long as you're alive no one will care how many bullet holes you're riddled with or how they got there."
