"So I have discovered you, have I? Why did you fail to keep our appointment within?"
He drew up sharply, with an oath, peering at me through the dark, bewildered by my speech.
"The spy! Ye gods, what luck! Do you mean to insinuate I ran away, sir?"
"How else could I interpret it?" I questioned coolly, determined to taunt him to action. "I waited where you told me till I was tired. Perhaps you will oblige me by explaining your purpose."
He muttered something, but without comprehending its purport I went on threateningly:
"And I think you made use of the word spy just now. Did you mistake me for another?"
"Mistake you? No; I'd know you in hell," he burst forth, anger making his voice tremble. "I called you a spy, and you are one, you sneaking night rat. You never waited for me in the parlor; if you had you'd now be under arrest."
"Oh, so that was the plan?"
"Yes, that was it, Mister Lieutenant Fortesque."
"Well, Grant," I said sternly, "I've got just one answer to make you. You can call your guard, or you can fight it out with me here. Whichever you choose will depend upon whether you are a man, or a cur." I took a step nearer, watching him as best I could in the dark. "You are an unmitigated liar, sir," and with sudden sweep of the arm I struck him with open hand. "Probably you will realize what that means."