himself for having overlooked this inevitable solution and given way
to idle panic.

Vallancey and Blake watching him, and the sudden metamorphosis that was
wrought in him, despised him heartily, and yet were glad - for the sake
of their association with him - that things were as they were.

"Mr. Westmacott," said Wilding quietly, his eyes steadily set upon
Richard's own arrogant gaze, his lips smiling a little, "I am here not
to fight, but to apologize."

Richard's sneer was audible to all. Oh, he was gathering courage fast
now that there no longer was the need for it. It urged him to lengths
of daring possible only to a fool.

"If you can take a blow, Mr. Wilding," said he offensively, "that is
your own affair."

And his friends gasped at his temerity and trembled for him, not knowing
what grounds he had for counting himself unassailable.

" Just so," said Mr. Wilding, as meek and humble as a nun, and
Trenchard, who had expected something very different from him, swore
aloud and with some circumstance of oaths. "The fact is," continued
Mr. Wilding, "that what I did last night, I did in the heat of wine,
and I am sorry for it. I recognize that this quarrel is of my
provoking; that it was unwarrantable in me to introduce the name of
Mistress Westmacott, no matter how respectfully; and that in doing
so I gave Mr. Westmacott ample grounds for offence. For that I beg
his pardon, and I venture to hope that this matter need go no further."