"And bluster's easy to a fool, till you let him see you hold him in contempt."
"As to holding in contempt, two can play at that game, Claude; and you might find the competition dangerous."
Claude came nearer, the lighted cigarette between his fingers. "Not on your life! That's one thing in which I'm not afraid to bet on myself." He came nearer still, planting himself within a few paces of his brother. His smile, his mirthless, dead-man's smile, held Thor's eyes as it had held Lois's a day or two before. He made an effort to speak jauntily. "Why, Thor, a volcano can't belch fire as fast as I can spit contempt on you. There! Take that!"
With a rapid twist of the hand he threw the lighted cigarette into Thor's face, where it struck with a little smarting burn below the eye. Thor held himself in check by clenching his fists more tightly and standing with bowed head. It was a minute or more before he was sufficiently master of himself to loosen the grip with which his fingers dug into one another, and put up his hand to brush the spot of ash from his cheek. Being in so great fear of his passions, he felt the necessity for speaking peaceably.
"What did you do that for, Claude? It's beastly silly."
"Oh no, it isn't—not the way I mean it."
"But why should you mean it that way? What have I ever done to you?"
"Good Lord! what haven't you done? You've—you've ruined me."
The charge was so unexpected that Thor looked more amazed than indignant. "Ruined you?"
"Yes, ruined me. What else did you set out to do when you began your confounded interference?"