is own self-possession deserting him.

"Allow me to tell you, Railsford, that I believe what that letter
states!"

"Do you really? I hope when I tell you that every word of it which
relates to myself is a grotesque falsehood, you will alter your
opinion."

"Even that would not convince me," said Bickers.

Railsford stared at him blankly. He had surely misunderstood his words.

"I said," he repeated, and there was a tremor of excitement in his
voice, which afforded his enemy the keenest pleasure--"I said that every
word in that letter which refers to me is false. You surely don't
believe it after that?"

"I said," repeated Mr Bickers, with a fine sneer, "that even that would
not convince me."

Surely the longed-for explosion would come now! He saw Railsford's face
flush and his eyes flash. But before the furious retort escaped from
his lips, a wise whisper from somewhere fell between them and robbed the
wolf of his prey.

"Then," said the Master of the Shell, forcing his lips to a smile,
"there is not much to be gained by prolonging this interview, is there?"

Mr Bickers was deeply mortified. There was nothing for it now but for
him to assume the _role_ of aggressor. He would so much have preferred
to be the aggrieved.

"Yes, Railsford," said he, rising from his chair and standing over his
enemy. "I dare you to say that you neither know nor suspect the person
who assaulted me!"

Railsford felt devoutly thankful he had kept his head. He now dug his
hands into his pockets, stretched himself, and replied,--

"You may very safely do that, Bickers."

It was hard lines for poor Bickers, this. He had worked so hard to get
himself an adversary; and here was all his labour being lost!

"You're paltering," snarled he. "I dare you to say you did not do the
cowardly deed yourself!"

Railsford could not imagine how he had ever been so foolish as to be in
a rage with the fellow. He laughed outright at the last piece of
bluster. Bickers was now fairly beside himself, or he would never have
done what he did. He struck Railsford where he sat a blow on the mouth,
which brought blood to his lips. This surely was the last card, and
Railsford in after years never knew exactly how it came about that he
did not fly there and then at his enemy's throat, and shake him as a big
dog shakes a rat. It may have been he was too much astonished to do
anything of the sort; or it may have been that he, the stronger man