At length Courtlandt returned to the lounge. “The Barone called upon me this morning.”
“Oh, he did?”
“I think you had better write him an apology.”
Abbott sat up. He flung the piece of plaster violently to the floor. “Apologize? Well, I like your nerve to come here with that kind of wabble. Look at these lips! Man, he struck me across the mouth, and I knocked him down.”
“It was a pretty good wallop, considering that you couldn’t see his face very well in the dark. I always said that you had more spunk to the square inch than any other chap I know. But over here, Suds, as you know, it’s different. You can’t knock down an officer and get away with it. So, you just sit down at your desk and write a little note, saying that you regret your hastiness. I’ll see that it goes through all right. Fortunately, no one heard of the row.”
“I’ll see you both farther!” wrathfully. “Look at these lips, I say!”
“Before he struck you, you must have given provocation.”
“Sha’n’t discuss what took place. Nor will I apologize.”
“That’s final?”
“You have my word for it.”