Patsy stepped forward and said:
“What is this?”
“We are very late, we know,” replied the man, “but Mr. Sanborn did not order these flowers until this morning.”
“Mr. Sanborn never ordered them,” cried Patsy.
“Do you know all that Mr. Sanborn does,” replied the man, rather indignantly.
In the meantime, the other two men had pushed forward and the three now tried to go by Patsy.
“Stand back,” said Patsy. “You can’t go by here. Now get out.”
“We’re goin’ to do what we were paid to do,” said the leader, “and you mustn’t stop us.”
Nick, upstairs, hearing the altercation, hurried forward. He was about halfway down the stairs when he saw Patsy catch the leader by the throat with both hands, and pushing him against the others, shove all of them, with their flowers, out through the door.
“Take ’em in,” cried Nick. “That’s the third attempt they’ve made.”