"I don't think I was, sir. I struck him a smart blow, but the cane was very light and easily broken."
"You were certainly very violent," continued Mr. Davis, resolved to make a point of this. "Halbert did not break the cane when he struck you."
"He struck the first blow."
"That does not alter the question of the amount of violence, which was evidently without justification. You must have been in a great passion."
"I don't think I was in any greater passion than Halbert."
"In view of the violence you made use of, I consider that you owe my son an apology."
"An apology!" repeated Robert, whose astonishment was apparent in his tone.
"I believe I spoke plainly," said the superintendent, irritably.
"If any apology is to be made," said our hero, firmly, "it ought to come from Halbert to me."
"How do you make that out?"