Then Dr. Bulling broke forth. “You impertinent young cub! What do you mean?”
For answer, Barney seized Drake's wineglass, half full of wine, and flung glass and contents full in Bulling's face. In an instant every man was on his feet. Above the din rose Foxmore's voice.
“Give it to him Bulling! Give it to the young prig!”
“No hurry about this, boys,” said Bulling quietly; “I'll make him eat his words before he's half an hour older.”
Meantime Dick was entreating his brother. “Let me at him. He's a great knocker. Held the 'varsity championship. You don't know anything about it. Let me at him, Barney. I can do him up.” Dick had been 'varsity champion in his own time. But Barney put Dick aside with quiet, stern words.
“Don't interfere, Dick. No matter what happens, don't interfere to-night. I won't have it, Dick, remember. It may take us an hour or it may take all night, but he'll say he lied before I'm through with him.”
Meantime the men, and chief among them Trent, were seeking to appease the doctor and to patch up the peace.
“If he apologizes I shall let the young cub off,” were the doctor's terms.
“If he says he lied,” was Barney's condition.
“Don't disturb yourselves, gentlemen,” said Bulling; “it will not take more than two minutes, and then we can finish our smoke.”