"You're a cheap, chiseling—"
"Easy, Andrews! Easy. There's a lady present. Besides, I might forget my easy-going nature and take a swing at you."
Andrews said scornfully, "Without a doubt, a man of your age and build could wipe up the lifeship with me."
Norton chuckled. "Don't count on your age being good protection, Andrews. You may push me far enough to make me forget that you're a decrepit old man who has to buy what your physique can't get you."
"Now see here!" roared Andrews.
He was stopped short by Norton who took one long step forward to grasp him by the coat lapels. Andrews' face went white, because he was looking into the face of dark anger. Norton's other hand was clenched in a large, tight fist. He eyed the older man sourly for a minute, then shoved him backward to collapse in a chair.
"What are you trying to do?" sneered Norton. "Make me mad enough to clip you so you can yell 'Foul!'? I know as well as you do that the law doesn't even recognize taunts and tongue-lashings as contributory to assault."
Alice got up from her couch and stood between them. "Stop it, both of you!" she cried. "Stop it!"
Norton's anger subsided. "All right," he said to Andrews. "Now that we've all had our lungs exercised, I'll go below and pedal that generator. Alice, you can have the bathroom first. Andrews, you take it with what she leaves. Is that okay?"