By this time Doe was much out of breath, and his sentences were short and broken: "It doesn't hurt. It's lovely! Ray, don't stand there grinning like this chimpanzee, White."
Suddenly at an upward swing the slender strap broke, and the books crashed through the window.
"Damn!" said White.
Doe, flushed and dishevelled, picked himself out of his chair.
"That's what comes of bullying, Moles White. I'll pay for it. It was my beastly fault!"
"No, you won't," said White.
"Don't presume to contradict me, Moles White, or I'll lick you! I have stated that I'll pay for it."
"No," White decided. "We'll split the difference and go shags."
I felt the old fellow was not displeased at this compromise, for his purse had its limitations. He withdrew from the scene and left us to our confidential chat.
When he had gone, there set in a reaction from the excited liveliness of his visit. Doe looked sadly through the broken pane and said: