* * *
Brown was in no mood to be friendly. Indeed he was quite nasty. He told me frankly that our friendship was at an end, and I felt pained about the matter. Suddenly a brilliant inspiration came to me. As I stood at the door I turned to him sharply.
"You've had your say, Mr. Brown," I said sternly, "and now it's my innings. I didn't mean to mention it, but you've forced me to do it."
I paused to note his sudden look of alarm.
"Yes," I went on, "I want to know what the devil you meant by saying that I suffered from swelled head?"
"When did I say that?" he stammered.
I shrugged my shoulders.
"I refuse to give away the man who told me," I said stiffly.
He was now in great excitement. He wiped his brow with his hand.