"You ought to have made sure of that," said Winchester, shortly, "before playing with a gentleman. Go to your mother. She is rich."
"She won't give me the money."
"Look here, Brayton," said Winchester, "I must have that money. I don't care how you get it. But some way or other it must be got. I hope you understand."
A bright idea came to Ben.
"You can't collect my notes," he said; "I'm under age."
"Then," said Winchester, his face darkening with a frown that made Ben shiver, "I demand satisfaction. To-morrow morning, at five o'clock, I will meet you with swords or pistols, as you prefer."
"What do you mean?" asked Ben, his teeth chattering, for he was an arrant coward.
"What I say! If the law will not give me satisfaction, I will demand the satisfaction of a gentleman. Fight or pay, take your choice; but one or the other you must do."
The sentence closed with an oath.
"I'll do my best," said Ben, terrified. "Of course I mean to pay you."