“Mr. Merriwell,” said Darleton, in a low tone, his words being almost inaudible at a distance of ten feet, “I have to offer you an apology for my hasty act of anger in striking you across the mask with my foil.”
“That’s all right,” declared Frank. “Forget it, Darleton.”
Merry offered his hand.
Darleton pretended he did not see this, and turned away at once.
Frank smiled and dropped his hand; but Bart Hodge gave vent to a suppressed exclamation of anger.
The action of the defeated fencer in declining to shake hands with his conqueror was noted by all in the room, and most of them felt annoyed and disgusted by this added slight after the forced apology.
Darleton left the room, without glancing to the right or left, and his companions followed closely.
“I knew he was a cur!” said Hodge, in a low, harsh tone.
The president and other members were annoyed and chagrined, but Frank found a method of passing the matter over by quickly awakening a discussion concerning the bouts of the finals.
A few minutes later François L’Estrange appeared. He advanced swiftly and grasped Frank’s hand.