"And the comic papers afterward," murmured Jack.
"But what are you going to do about it?" asked Tom.
"You might have the Count arrested and bound over to keep the peace," suggested Bradish.
"That's a nice speech for the Count's second!" cried Jack with a roar.
"What am I going to do?" repeated Barnstable. "I'll fight him!"
He struck himself on the chest, and glared around him, while they all stood in astonished silence.
"My wife has been insulted," he went on with fresh vehemence, "and I had a right to call the man that did it a villain or anything else! I owe it to her to fight him if he won't take it back!"
"Gad!" said Jack, advancing and holding out his hand, "that's melodrama and no mistake; but I like your pluck! I'll back you up, Barnstable!"
"Does that mean that you'll be his second, Jack?" asked Harbinger, laughing.
"There, Tom," was the retort, "don't run a joke into the ground. When a man shows the genuine stuff, he isn't to be fooled any longer."