“And so,” he said breaking unconsciously into English, “let us begin by burning these BEASTLY mortgages!”
And with a noble and dramatic gesture Benham cast his handful on the fire. The assenting faces became masks of horror. A score of hands clutched at those precious papers, and a yell of dismay and anger filled the room. Some one caught at his throat from behind. “Don't kill him!” cried some one. “He fought for us!”
6
An hour later Benham returned in an extraordinarily dishevelled and battered condition to his hotel. He found his friend in anxious consultation with the hotel proprietor.
“We were afraid that something had happened to you,” said his friend.
“I got a little involved,” said Benham.
“Hasn't some one clawed your cheek?”
“Very probably,” said Benham.
“And torn your coat? And hit you rather heavily upon the neck?”
“It was a complicated misunderstanding,” said Benham. “Oh! pardon! I'm rather badly bruised upon that arm you're holding.”