"Sir, that remark demands satisfaction."
"You are welcome to all the satisfaction you can get," said Clayton, coolly.
"You shall meet me," said Tom Gordon, "where you shall answer for that remark!"
"I am not a fighting man," said Clayton; "but, if I were, I should never consent to meet any one but my equals. When a man stoops to do the work of a rowdy and a bully, he falls out of the sphere of gentlemen. As for you," said Clayton, turning to the rest of the company, "there's more apology for you. You have not been brought up to know better. Take my advice; disperse yourselves now, or I shall take means to have this outrage brought to justice."
There is often a magnetic force in the appearance, amid an excited mob, of a man of commanding presence, who seems perfectly calm and decided. The mob stood irresolute.
"Come, Tom," said Kite, pulling him by the sleeve, "we've given him enough, at any rate."
"Yes, yes," said Mr. Brown, "Mr. Gordon, I advise you to go home. We must all keep the peace, you know. Come, boys, you've done enough for one night, I should hope! Go home, now, and let the old man be; and there's something to buy you a treat, down at Skinflint's. Come, do the handsome, now!"
Tom Gordon sullenly rode away, with his two associates each side; but, before he went, he said to Clayton,—
"You shall hear of me again, one of these days!"
"As you please," said Clayton.