"Abuse cannot alter what I say."
"Put up your hands and defend yourself. I hate to strike a defenceless man," said Denis, moved to fury.
"Do you fancy I am afraid of you?" Gerard asked tauntingly.
"Then take it," cried Denis Quirk, and his fist flew out suddenly, beat down Gerard's guard, and stretched him on the gravel path.
"You have killed him," cried Kathleen in sudden terror.
"Not I. Such men as this never die."
Denis stooped and examined the prostrate man.
"He will live to lie again," he said. "I know him for a liar. Night after night I have followed you, not because I distrusted you, but I have seen him lurking about and I feared danger."
She came to him with outstretched hands and hid herself in the big man's arms. They went side by side up the long avenue, and their steps seemed to march to a triumphant anthem.