"Did he begin the fight then?" he said. "There's such a thing as—as defending oneself, quite rightly. Supposing the other boy started it?"
"That will be all gone into in the proper time and place," said Brownrigg pompously. "An example must be made, and—"
Before he had time to finish his sentence Ferdy interrupted him joyfully. He had just caught sight of the pony-carriage driving in rapidly. For some garbled account of what had happened had been given to Mr. Ross by the group of men and boys still hanging about the gates, and he hurried in, afraid of finding his boy startled and upset.
Nor did the sight of the stout constable reassure him. On the contrary it made Mr. Ross very indignant. He scarcely noticed Brownrigg's half-apologetic greeting.
"What's all this?" he said sharply. "Who gave you leave to come up here and disturb an invalid?"
Brownrigg grew very red, and murmured something about his "dooty."
"Step downstairs, if you please, and then I'll hear what you've got to say."