‘Who’s brute? Brute yourself! Tell you goin’ to marry Stephen, ‘cos Stephen wants it. Stephen loves me. Loves me with all her red head! Wha’re you doin’! Wha!!’

His words merged in a lessening gurgle, for Harold had now got him by the throat.

‘Take care what you say about that lady! damn you!’ he said, putting his face close the other’s with eyes that blazed. ‘Don’t you dare to mention her name in such a way, or you will regret it longer than you can think. Loves you, you swine!’

The struggle and the fierce grip on his throat sobered Leonard somewhat. Momentarily sobbed him to that point when he could be coherent and vindictive, though not to the point where he could think