article, which must be in type and upon thousands of breakfast tables by
the next morning whether her heart ached or not, whether her life were
rough or smooth.

In the meantime, Brian, having watched her cab drive off, turned back
into Westminster Hall. He could see nothing but the one vision which
filled his brain the face of the girl he loved, a lovely, pure face
suffused with tears. He could hear nothing but that intolerable slander
which filled his heart with a burning, raging indignation. Straight as
an arrow and as if by instinct, he made his way to the place where
Sir Algernon and three or four companions were pacing to and fro. He
confronted them, bringing their walk to an enforced pause.

"I am here to demand an apology for the words you spoke just now about
Miss Raeburn," he said, speaking in a voice which was none the less
impressive because it trembled slightly as with a wrath restrained only
by a great effort.

Sir Algernon, a florid, light-haired man of about thirty, coolly stared
at him for a moment.

"Who may you be, sir, who take up the cudgels so warmly in Miss
Raeburn's defense?"

"A man who will not hear a defenseless girl insulted," said Brian, his
voice rising. "Apologize!"

"Defenseless girl!" repeated the other in a tone so insufferable that
Brian's passion leaped up like wild fire.

"You vile blackguard!" he cried, "what you said was an infernal lie, and
if you don't retract it this moment, I'll thrash you within an inch of
your life."

Sir Algernon laughed and shrugged his shoulders.

"'Pon my life!" he exclaimed, turning to one of his companions, "if I'd
know that Miss Raeburn--"

But the sentence was never ended for, with a look of fury, Brian sprung
at him, seized him by the collar of his coat, and holding him like
a vise with one hand, with the other brought down his cane upon the
slanderer's shoulders with such energy that the wretch writhed beneath
it.

The on-lookers, being gentlemen and fully aware that Sir Algernon
deserved all he was getting, stood by, not offering to interfere,
perhaps in their hearts rather sympathizing with the stranger whose
righteous indignation had about it a manliness that appealed to them.
Presently Sir Algernon ceased to kick, his struggles grew fainter. Brian
let his right arm pause then, and with his left flung his foe into the
corner as if he had been a mere chattel.

"There!" he exclaimed, "summons me for that when you please." And,
hand