"No, thank you; I've heard too much of what you call reason already; I'll hear no more. Stand out of my way."
"Nash, Nash, don't be hasty! If you'll only let me speak a dozen words, you'll view the situation in quite a different light."
"Shall I? Then I'll not let you speak them. I see the situation now in the only light I mean to see it. Stand out of my way."
Nash, moving forward, gripped Morgan by the shoulders; either the assault was unexpected, or he used great force. Swinging Morgan round, he sent him reeling backwards half across the room; until, coming into unlooked-for contact with a chair, he fell heavily on to the floor. Before he could recover Nash had gone from the room, and was out of the flat. Picking himself up, although he seemed a trifle dazed, Morgan went rushing after him. When he reached the landing he heard Nash's voice come up the well of the staircase, from the floor below.
"Porter, the man Morgan, whom I have left in Mr. Oldfield's flat, has no right whatever to be there."
"Hasn't he, sir? How's that? He seems to have done something to upset Mr. Clifford."
"When he comes down, if you find that he has anything on him belonging to the flat--papers, letters, anything--they have been stolen. If you allow him to leave the building with them on him, possibly you will be held responsible."
"Shall I? He shan't leave here with anything on him that doesn't belong to him, I promise you; there are two or three people about the place who'll see to that."
Mr. Morgan waited to hear no more. He slunk back into the flat and shut the door.