"Well, Caarter, then," mimicking him, perhaps unconsciously. "You know"—
The intonation was the last straw. The colonel lost all control of himself. No man had ever thus dared before.
"Stop, Mr. Klutchem! What I know, suh, I decline to discuss with you. Yo' statements are false, and yo' manner of expressin' them quite in keepin' with the evident vulga'ity of yo' mind. If I can ascertain that you have ever had any claim to be considered a gentleman you will hear from me ag'in. If not, I shall rate you as rankin' with yo' yallar dog; and if you ever speak to me ag'in I will strike you, suh, with my cane."
And the colonel, his eyes flashing, strode into the private office with the air of a field marshal, and shut the door.
Klutchem looked around the room and into the startled faces of the clerks and bystanders, burst into a loud laugh, and left the office. On reaching the street he met Fitz coming in.
"Better look after old Garden Spot, Fitzpatrick. I poked holes in his road, and he wanted to swallow me alive."
CHAPTER VI
Certain Important Letters
When I reached my lodgings that night I found this note, marked in the left-hand corner "Important," and in the right-hand corner "In haste." A boy had left it half an hour before.
Be at my house at six, prepared to leave town at an hour's notice.