"Rudolph, I tell you, you will accept it."
"And, once again, I say no. Any other man I will fight, if necessary, but not you."
A deep furrow gathered between the Baron's knitted brows; but he knew this friend of his youth, knew that, in spite of those grey hairs, the man before him was still the old Hotspur whose fiery temper, once thoroughly aroused, would silence reflection and overleap all bounds. All that was needed was to find the vulnerable spot.
"I did not think you had turned coward since we parted," said Raven, with simulated scorn.
That told. The Doctor started up in anger, and his eye sparkled ominously.
"Unsay that word!" he cried. "You know well that I am no coward. I have no need to prove that to you now."
"I unsay nothing," declared Raven. "You have brought a disgraceful charge against me, have repeated it in the presence of a stranger, who, as you were well aware, would give it publicity, and now you seek to escape the consequences of your act. Call it what you like--I call it cowardice."
Brunnow's self-command went from him altogether, as the fateful word was thus hurled at him a second time.
"Stop, Arno," he panted; "I will not bear this."
The Baron remained quite unmoved. Not a muscle of his face quivered. He stood, inflexible in his icy calm, goading his adversary on, step by step, to the requisite pitch of madness.