"You dare to touch me? You infernal young villain--take away your hand!"
"I don't intend to allow you to touch the communication cord."
"You don't intend! We'll see about that."
They did see, on the instant. The black knob of the alarm bell was over the centre seat in front of Mr. Patterson. Putting out his strength, evading Rodney's grip, he gained his feet. Elmore took him by the shoulders with both his hands. There was a scuffle--sharp, but brief. For a moment it looked as if the elder man might be a match for the younger, but for a moment only. On a sudden Mr. Patterson collapsed on to his seat as if the stiffening had gone all out of him and left him but a mass of boneless pulp. He could only gasp out words.
"You shall smart for this!"
"If you're not very careful, sir, you'll smart first--my dear uncle."
"Don't you call me your dear uncle."
"My dear uncle."
"Damn you, you----"
A flood of vituperation poured from the elder man's lips, which, when he had finished, left him an even darker shade of purple. Rodney never ceased to smile. So soon as the flood had stopped he repeated the endearing form of address.