"I don't understand you!" protested Porshinger, edging away. "What have I done to you, Pendleton?"
"I've told you I don't like the cut of your coat," was the answer. "Put up your hands, if you don't want me to take my stick to you."
"The man must have lost his mind! Mr. Burgoyne, can't you do something?" Porshinger cried, retreating until his back was against the railing.
For answer, Pendleton's left shot out and tapped Porshinger lightly on the nose.
"Put up your hands," said he, and tapped him again.
"Stop!" he cried. "What do you mean, Pendleton?"
"I've already answered that question several times," Pendleton replied. "Sheldon, will you be kind enough to take charge of Mr. Murchison?"
"Come to think of it I don't like the cut of your coat either, Mr. Murchison," said Burgoyne. "Oblige me by standing aside."
"What's the matter with you damn fools?" demanded Murchison. "Are you trying to pick a fight?"
"Yes," said Pendleton quietly, "but we are meeting with very poor success;" and he tapped Porshinger a third time--and harder.
"Well, if that's what you're after we'll accommodate you!" exclaimed Murchison. "Porshinger, let's give them what's coming to them"--and picking up a chair he let it drive at Burgoyne's head.
The next few minutes were very busy for all parties concerned--and when the astonished servants, attracted by the noise of overturning tables and shifting feet, hurried to the scene, Porshinger and Murchison were bearing their contusions down to the wash-room, while Pendleton and Burgoyne, without a scratch upon them--except for abraded knuckles--were in their chairs and smoking peacefully.
"What was it all about--why did they start the rough house?" Porshinger demanded, while they were repairing the damages.
"If I knew I wouldn't have asked you!" the other retorted.
"They overheard our talk about Mrs. Lorraine and resented it, I think," said Murchison.
"Hell! I might have known--Pendleton and Burgoyne met her when she came here this afternoon. Well, I fancy we can square off with them; Mrs. Lorraine is a pretty fair target--and Pendleton is not invulnerable to those who know how to reach him."
"You would better let Pendleton alone," cautioned Murchison.
"What! I think not. I'm not that sort. He started the fight so I'm going to accommodate him. Didn't like the cut of our coats, didn't they? What the devil did they mean by that--what's our clothes got to do with starting a rough-house?" he reiterated. "I don't understand--they didn't mention the Lorraine woman's name!"