Serge said:
“I’ve come to beg your pardon. I lost my temper.”
Frederic could find nothing to say. Serge went on:
“Let us, if we can, discuss the matter on a friendly footing. You made a beast of yourself by pestering a woman. I made a beast of myself by hitting you. Now we know where we are. . . . We’re likely to meet at home and other places where any obvious hostility would be embarrassing. . . .”
“I don’t wish to meet you at home or anywhere else.”
“It will be difficult to avoid. I think we had better settle the case out of court. Isn’t that what you call it?”
Frederic tugged at his waistcoat and looked almost dignified as he said:
“I have no wish to interfere in your affairs. I will thank you not to meddle with mine.”
“It happens, however,” replied Serge, “that our affairs have overlapped. I must ask you to withdraw.”