“Queer fellow, George,” said Mr Ringwood heavily. “I don’t say he ain’t a right one: he is: as game a man as any I know! The thing is, he’s got the devil of a temper, and once he’s in one of his fits there’s no saying what he may do. Do you remember pulling him off that stupid fellow’s throat, Ferdy? Can’t recall his name, but you’ll know! The quiz that married his sister Emily. What I mean is, that shows you, Kitten! His own brother-in-law!”
“Mind you, I never blamed him for that!” Ferdy said. “Didn’t like the fellow myself. What the deuce was his name?”
“Oh, never mind!” Hero exclaimed. “What can it signify? How are we to prevent Sherry’s meeting George?”
“That’s just it: you can’t,” said Mr Ringwood. “Couldn’t expect Sherry to hedge off. Why, if I were ever fool enough to call George out, I wouldn’t hedge off!”
“George ought to beg Sherry’s pardon. Trouble is, he won’t,” said Ferdy. “Come to think of it, he’s been spoiling for a fight for a long time. Never can find anyone to go out with him in the general way. If it weren’t Sherry, I’d say it was a shame to ruin the only bit of pleasure the poor fellow has had in months.”
“But it is Sherry!” Hero cried.
“Yes,” agreed Ferdy mournfully. “Pity!”
“Never mind that!” interposed Mr Ringwood. “It’s got to be stopped. Don’t pay any heed to Ferdy, Kitten! You listen to me! And, mind! not a word of this to Sherry, for he’d be as mad as Bedlam if he knew I’d breathed a syllable to you, and very likely call me out, and Ferdy too!”
“No, no, I promise I will not say a word to Sherry!”
“I can’t move George; Ferdy can’t move George. Tried our best already. Only one person he’ll listen to.”