Percy on the evening before they went had been less bright than usual, and had alarmed Jeffreys by a slight return of feverishness. He had just dropped off to sleep, and seemed about to settle quietly for the night, when the door opened and Scarfe came in.
Jeffreys was there in an instant with his hand raised in warning.
“Hush, please,” said he, “he has just gone over.”
“Whom are you telling to hush? you canting brute!” said Scarfe, raising his voice in a passion unusual for him. “Let me come in, do you hear?”
And he moved forward, as if to force his way into the room.
Jeffreys caught him by the two elbows and lifted him bodily out into the landing, and then stood with his back to the door.
Scarfe, livid with rage, made no attempt to get back into the room. Turning on his adversary, he said between his teeth—
“I shall remember this,” and departed.