'I beg leave, sir, to return to you this ring,' said Duncan, tossing it contemptuously on the table.
'My ring—my wife's ring it was—'
'Was—eh!'
'Yes, Captain Cameron. Where did you find it?'
'Where you placed it, I doubt not.'
'I do not understand your tone and manner, Captain Cameron; but I certainly placed it on the finger——'
'Of my wife,' said Duncan, hoarsely and scornfully. 'I thank you for your kind attention, but trust that it will end here ere worse come of it. I am not a man to be trifled with, Sir Bevis.'
Now, Sir Bevis had no dislike to be thought 'a gay Lothario, a sad dog, and all that sort of thing,' so he actually simpered provokingly, shrugged his shoulders and said, deprecatingly,
'Really, you wrong Mrs. Cameron.'
'She has deceived me!' exclaimed Duncan, furiously.