just wild assertion; to have it bandied
about was unfair to Dancy. The duel used to keep people's tongues in
order.

ST ERTH. H'm! It never settled anything, except who could shoot
straightest.

COLFORD. [Re-appearing] De Levis says he's nothing to add to what he
said to you before, on the subject.

CANYNGE. Kindly tell him that if he wishes to remain a member of this
Club he must account to the Committee for such a charge against a
fellow-member. Four of us are here, and form a quorum.

COLFORD goes out again.

ST ERTH. Did Kentman ever give the police the numbers of those notes,
WINSOR?

WINSOR. He only had the numbers of two--the hundred, and one of the
fifties.

ST ERTH. And they haven't traced 'em?

WINSOR. Not yet.

As he speaks, DE LEVIS comes in. He is in a highly-coloured, not to
say excited state. COLFORD follows him.

DE LEVIS. Well, General Canynge! It's a little too strong all this--
a little too strong. [Under emotion his voice is slightly more exotic].

CANYNGE. [Calmly] It is obvious, Mr De Levis, that you and Captain
Dancy can't both remain members of this Club. We ask you for an
explanation before requesting one resignation or the other.

DE LEVIS. You've let me down.

CANYNGE. What!

DE LEVIS. Well, I shall tell people that you and Lord St Erth backed me
up for one Club, and asked me to resign from another.

CANYNGE. It's a matter of indifference to me, sir, what you tell people.

ST ERTH. [Drily] You seem a venomous young man.

DE LEVIS. I'll tell you what seems to me venomous, my lord--chasing a
man like a pack of hounds because he isn't your breed.

CANYNGE. You appear to have your breed on the brain, sir. Nobody else
does, so far as I know.

DE LEVIS. Suppose I had robbed Dancy, would you chase him out for
complaining of it?

COLFORD. My God! If you repeat that--

CANYNGE. Steady, Colford!

WINSOR. You make this accusation that Dancy stole your money in my house
on no proof--no proof; and you expect Dancy's friends to treat you as if
you were a gentleman! That's too strong, if you like!

DE LEVIS. No proof? Bentman told me at Newmarket yesterday that Dancy
did know of the sale. He told Goole, and Goole says that he himself
spoke of it to Dancy.

WINSOR. Well--if he did?

DE LEVIS. Dancy told you he didn't know of it in General Canynge's
presence, and mine. [To CANYNGE] You can't deny that, if you want to.