ass. You must recall them."

"What were the words? I said that you were a pettifogging rascal. I
now repeat them." As he spoke he put on his hat, so as to leave both
his hands ready for action if action should be required.

Grey was much the larger man and much the stronger. It may be doubted
whether he knew himself the extent of his own strength, but such as
it was he resolved that he must now use it. "There is no help for
it," he said, as he also prepared for action. The first thing he did
was to open the door, and as he did so he became conscious that his
mouth was full of blood from a sharp blow upon his face. Vavasor had
struck him with his fist, and had cut his lip against his teeth.
Then there came a scramble, and Grey was soon aware that he had his
opponent in his hands. I doubt whether he had attempted to strike a
blow, or whether he had so much as clenched his fist. Vavasor had
struck him repeatedly, but the blows had fallen on his body or his
head, and he was unconscious of them. He had but one object now in
his mind, and that object was the kicking his assailant down the
stairs. Then came a scramble, as I have said, and Grey had a hold of
the smaller man by the nape of his neck. So holding him he forced
him back through the door on to the landing, and there succeeded in
pushing him down the first flight of steps. Grey kicked at him as
he went, but the kick was impotent. He had, however, been so far
successful that he had thrust his enemy out of the room, and had the
satisfaction of seeing him sprawling on the landing-place.

Vavasor, when he raised himself, prepared to make another rush at
the room, but before he could do so a man from below, hearing the
noise, had come upon him and interrupted him. "Mr Jones," said Grey,
speaking from above, "if that gentleman does not leave the house, I
must get you to search for a policeman."

Vavasor, though the lodging-house man had hold of the collar of his
coat, made no attempt to turn upon his new enemy. When two dogs are
fighting, any bystander may attempt to separate them with impunity.
The brutes are so anxious to tear each other that they have no
energies left for other purposes. It never occurs to them to turn
their teeth upon newcomers in the quarrel. So it was with George
Vavasor. Jones was sufficient to prevent his further attack upon the
foe up-stairs, and therefore he had no alternative but to relinquish
the fight.

"What's it all about, sir?" said Jo