thatIgiveyoulowwagesandknockyouaboutlikeadog.Iwishyouwereadog!I’dset-tothisminute,andneverstirfromthespottillI’dcuteverystripoffleshfromyourboneswiththiswhip.”
Heflourishedhistool.Theendofthelashjusttouchedmyforehead.Awarmexcitedthrillranthroughmyveins,mybloodseemedtogiveabound,andthenracedfastandhotalongitschannels.Igotupnimbly,cameroundtowherehestood,andfacedhim.
“Downwithyourwhip!”saidI,“andexplainthisinstantwhatyoumean.”
“Sirrah!towhomareyouspeaking?”
“Toyou.Thereisnooneelsepresent,Ithink.YousayIhavebeencalumniatingyou—complainingofyourlowwagesandbadtreatment.Giveyourgroundsfortheseassertions.”
Crimsworthhadnodignity,andwhenIsternlydemandedanexplanation,hegaveoneinaloud,scoldingvoice.
“Grounds!youshallhavethemandturntothelightthatImayseeyourbrazenfaceblushblack,whenyouhearyourselfprovedtobealiarandahypocrite.AtapublicmeetingintheTown-hallyesterday,Ihadthepleasureofhearingmyselfinsultedbythespeakeropposedtomeinthequestionunderdiscussion,byallusionstomyprivateaffairsbycantaboutmonsterswithoutnaturalaffection,familydespots,andsuchtrashandwhenIrosetoanswer,Iwasmetbyashoutfromthefilthymob,wherethementionofyournameenabledmeatoncetodetectthequarterinwhichthisbaseattackhadoriginated.WhenIlookedround,Isawthattreacherousvillain,Hunsdenactingasfugleman.IdetectedyouincloseconversationwithHunsdenatmyhouseamonthago,andIknowthatyouwereatHunsden’sroomslastnight.Denyitifyoudare.”
“Oh,Ishallnotdenyit!AndifHunsdenhoundedonthepeopletohissyou,hedidquiteright.Youdeservepopularexecrationforaworseman,ahardermaster,amorebrutalbrotherthanyouarehasseldomexisted.”
“Sirrah!sirrah!”reiteratedCrimsworthandtocompletehisapostrophe,hecrackedthewhipstraightovermyhead.
Aminutesufficedtowrestitfromhim,break