“How dare you break in my door?” growled the squire.
“We shall do worse than that, squire, if you don’t treat us respectfully.”
“A man’s house is his castle,” added the squire, a little more moderately.
“That’s very good law, but there isn’t a house in Pinchbrook that is big enough or strong enough to shield a traitor from the indignation of his fellow-citizens. We do not purpose to harm you or your property, if you behave like a reasonable man.”
“You shall suffer for this outrage,” gasped the squire, whose rage was increased by the cool and civil manner of Captain Barney.
“When you closed the door in my face, I had intimated that your fellow-citizens wish you to display the national flag.”
“I refuse to do it, sir.”
“Consider, squire, what you say. The people have made up their minds not to tolerate a traitor within the corporate limits of the town of Pinchbrook.”
“I am no traitor.”
“That is precisely what we wish you to demonstrate to your fellow-citizens assembled outside to witness an exhibition of your patriotism.”