“All I can say is, it’s sheer spite and nothing else. Dangle was deliberately knocked over by that cad Rollitt—”
“Who is not present, and may therefore be called names with safety,” said Ranger.
“Shut up, Ranger, there’s a good fellow,” said the captain.
“And Dangle had a right to object,” continued Clapperton.
“He had no right to play into the hands of the other side,” said Yorke.
“How do you know I did?” said Dangle.
“Do you mean to say you didn’t?” said Yorke.
“I didn’t come here to be catechised by you. Are you going to put Clapperton and me in the fifteen or not? That’s what we came to know.”
“No—certainly not,” said the captain; “and as that’s all, you may as well go.”
“Very well,” sneered Clapperton, who was in a high temper, “you’ll be sorry for it. Come on, Dangle.”