“They came to blows!”
“Blows?” said Sir Harry, bending forward and taking the Colonel by a button: “as far as I can make out, Linnell took his riding-whip from him, and he is lashed from head to foot.”
“And all about that girl of Denville’s,” said the Colonel, with a contemptuous look.
“Yes. But, my dear boy, you must own that she is devilishly handsome.”
“Oh yes, she’s handsome enough. Then the affair is serious?”
“Serious?” said Sir Harry, lowering his voice. “Rockley swears he’ll kill him.”
Colonel Mellersh looked very grave.
“They’ll have to meet, then?”
“Meet, my dear sir! Rockley says he’ll lie in wait for him and shoot him like a dog if he doesn’t come out. Fancy, you know, beaten like that before a lady!”
“And such a lady as Claire Denville,” said Colonel Mellersh, with a sneer. “Well,” he added, changing his manner, “I’m very sorry.”