"Are you going to speak to that officer?" Chris Gore asked, as he detained Hardy for an instant by stepping in front of him.
"Why not? He should pay that which he owes."
"But this is not the proper time to speak of business affairs. No man would listen to a barber's apprentice in public, like this."
"He shall listen to me," Master Piemont's assistant replied, loftily. "It is to me he owes the money, and I do not intend to be defrauded."
Before his companion could check him, the valiant Hardy stepped quickly up to Lieutenant Draper, who was in company with two brother officers, and said, in an offensive tone:
"I was at the Custom House yesterday to see you, sir."
"And pray, why did you take it upon yourself to go there?" the lieutenant asked.
"Because I wanted the money you owe Master Piemont for dressing your hair, and I went where I was most likely to find you."
The lieutenant's face grew pale with anger, and he made a motion as if to strike the impudent boy, but one of his companions said, in a warning whisper:
"Be careful what you do, Draper. An injudicious word or act now might arouse this apparently peaceable assemblage into an unruly mob!"