Alf quaked.
"Been in the wars then?" he said shakily.
"What d'you know about it?" rumbled Joe.
"I don't know nothin," answered Alf sharply, almost shrilly.
Just then little Alice entered. Alf took advantage of her entrance to establish his line of retreat. Once set in the door with a clear run for the open his courage returned to him.
"And what may be your name?" he asked the child with deliberate insolence.
"Alice Caspar," she answered, staring wide-eyed.
Alf sneered.
"That it ain't—I know," he said, and went out without his rent, and laughing horribly.
Little Alice ran out again.