"To what effect?" scowled Anthony.
"Mr. Tarrant is of the opinion, since you saw fit to lift your hand to him the other night, that some redress is due him. He has desired me to speak to you, or to any friend whom you might name, and learn if you are of a mind to give him satisfaction."
The words were fairly low; but there was a sudden stir and whispering in the room. Whitaker, astonished, looked at Anthony.
"Is it possible," said he, "that it was you who struck Tarrant?"
"It was," replied Anthony. "And now, as a personal friend of Tarrant's, it would perhaps be best if you withdrew; I have no desire to involve you."
But Whitaker spoke promptly.
"I have always been upon good terms with Tarrant," said he; "but still it does not follow that I should abandon another friend because of that."
"Well spoken," applauded the big young man. "Crisp, and to the point. Here is a gentleman of much the same kidney as yourself," to Anthony. "Impulsive; ready to take up a cause at a moment's notice." He laughed and seemed immensely entertained. "Never an inquiry; never a thought that the matter might be otherwise than stated."
"Suppose," said Anthony quietly, "we indulge in as few observations as possible."
"Excellent!" approved the other good-humoredly. "Just what I should have expected of you." He composed himself to a smiling gravity and resumed. "Well, then, as Tarrant has received a blow from you, I, as a friend, have come to ask that you refer me to some one with whom I can make arrangements for a meeting."