"He nearly pinked me a dozen times," replied Tracy, binding his arm round more tightly. "He fights like ten devils. But he was fatigued."
He followed Andrew across the room and stood looking down at his unconscious foe.
Diana's eyes challenged him.
"Stand back, your Grace! You have no more to do here!"
He drew out his snuff-box and took a pinch.
"So that is how the matter lies, my dear. I did not know that."
"You pretend that it would have made a difference in your treatment of me?"
"Not the slightest, child," he replied, shutting the box with a snap. "It has merely come as a slight surprise to me. It seems he has the luck this round." He walked away again as another great bell-peal sounded through the house.
Andrew, pouring cognac into a glass, paused with bottle held in mid-air.
"Thunder and turf! We are like to be a party! Who now?" He set the glass down and lounged out of the room, bottle in hand. They heard him give an astonished cry and a loud laugh, and the next moment O'Hara strode into the room, booted and spurred and enveloped in a heavy surcoat. He came swiftly upon the little group about my lord and went down on one knee beside him. His eyes seemed to take in everyone at a glance. Then he looked across at Richard.