“How’re you, Beechman?” said I, ignoring the signs of foul weather. “Armitage told me you were in town, but didn’t know your address. Stopping long?”
“You are a scoundrel,” said he.
I shrugged my shoulders. As I was much the larger and stronger man I could afford to do it. “So I’ve often heard,” said I. “Perhaps it’s true. What of it? Why should you think I cared to know your opinion of me?”
“If I send you a challenge will you accept it?”
I laughed. “No, I never pay the slightest attention to crank letters.”
“You are a coward. You will not give me a chance to meet you on equal terms.”
“I’ll take you over my knee and give you a spanking if you don’t behave yourself,” said I, and I pushed him out of my path and was passing on.
“You took her away from me,” he jeered. “But it will do you no good. She is laughing at us both.”
I strode away. I had heard enough to put me in high good humor.