I repeat, I chuckled, for there was a side of the situation which appealed to my sense of humour. Falkner Sewin's temper and dignity alike were ruffled. There was going to be a row. Falkner had long wanted taking down a peg. It was highly probable that the said lowering process would now be effected. In about a moment I was at the window. The contending parties, by neither of whom was I observed, were drawn up in battle array. Falkner, who had apparently just arrived on horseback, had dismounted, and was advancing upon Kendrew in a sort of prize ring attitude. The latter for his part, simply stood and waited, his face wearing an expression of indifference that might be extremely provoking. No, I was not going to interfere--not yet. A little bloodletting would do Falkner no harm--or, for the matter of that, either of them. "Come on," sung out the latter. "Come on, can't you. Not afraid, are you?" "Not much. I'm waiting for you." Then they went at it--hammer and tongs. Falkner had science--I could see that--but Kendrew was as hard as nails, and a precious tough customer to handle, and made up for his lack of science by consummate coolness; and with an eye keen as a hawk's whenever he saw his chance, he confined himself so far to standing his ground, the while Falkner waltzed round him, for all the world like a dog on the seashore when yapping round some big crab which he doesn't feel quite equal to closing in upon. For a little while I watched these manoeuvres in a state of semi-choke for stifled laughter, till they got to work in earnest, and then, by Jingo, it was no child's play. "Time!" I sung out stentoriously. "Haven't you two fellows pummelled each other enough?" I went on, appearing before the combatants. "What's it all about, any way?" "Glanton--by the Lord!" ejaculated Falkner, startled, and, I fancied, looking a trifle ashamed of himself. "What's it all about?" repeated Kendrew. "Well, you see, Glanton, I ain't naturally a quarrelsome chap, but when a man comes onto my place, and begins upon me in a God Almighty `haw-haw' sort of tone as `my good fellow' and doesn't even condescend to tell me who he is when asked, why it's enough to get my back up, isn't it?" I thought it was, but I wasn't going to say so, and his allusion to "my place" made me smile. "Look here," I said decisively. "This is all a misunderstanding. You didn't know each other, now I'll introduce you. Sewin, this is Kendrew, a very good fellow when you get to know him--Kendrew, this is Sewin, a very good fellow when you get to know _him_. Now shake hands." And they did, but the expression upon each face was so comical that I could hardly keep from roaring, which would have upset the whole understanding; in that each would have felt more savage at being made ridiculous. "Well, if I've been uncivil I'll not be above owning it," said Kendrew. "So come inside Mr--Sewin, and we'll have a drink and think no more about it."