got
out of your station. Time was when your ears were clipped. You've
lost your sense of proportion. Swollen gas-bags! I'll keep you in
your proper place. Yes, sir, you haven't got over G. E. C. There's
one man who is still your master. He warned you off, but if you WILL
come, by the Lord you do it at your own risk. Forfeit, my good Mr.
Malone, I claim forfeit! You have played a rather dangerous game, and
it strikes me that you have lost it."

"Look here, sir," said I, backing to the door and opening it; "you can
be as abusive as you like. But there is a limit. You shall not
assault me."

"Shall I not?" He was slowly advancing in a peculiarly menacing way,
but he stopped now and put his big hands into the side-pockets of a
rather boyish short jacket which he wore. "I have thrown several of
you out of the house. You will be the fourth or fifth. Three pound
fifteen each--that is how it averaged. Expensive, but very necessary.
Now, sir, why should you not follow your brethren? I rather think you
must." He resumed his unpleasant and stealthy advance, pointing his
toes as he walked, like a dancing master.

I could have bolted for the hall door, but it would have been too
ignominious. Besides, a little glow of righteous anger was springing
up within me. I had been hopelessly in the wrong before, but this
man's menaces were putting me in the right.

"I'll trouble you to keep your hands off, sir. I'll not stand it."

"Dear me!" His black moustache lifted and a white fang twinkled in a
sneer. "You won't stand it, eh?"

"Don't be such a fool, Professor!" I cried. "What can you hope for?
I'm fifteen stone, as hard as nails, and play center three-quarter
every Saturday for the London Irish. I'm not the man----"

It was at that moment that he rushed me. It was lucky that I had
opened the door, or we should have gone through it. We did a
Catharine-wheel together down the passage. Somehow we gathered up a
chair upon our way, and bounded on with it towards the street. My
mouth was full of his beard, our arms were locked, our bodies
intertwined, and that infernal chair radiated its legs all round us.
The watchful Austin had thrown open the hall door. We went with a back
somersault down the front steps. I have seen the two Macs attempt
something of the kind at the halls, but it appears to take some
practise to do it without hurting oneself. The chair went to matchwood
at the bottom, and we rolle