"Besides," said Mr. Bramble, "one doesn't fight duels in this country, any more than one does in England. It's quite against the law." "I sha'n't need any one to represent me when it comes to punching his head," said Mr. Trotter. "It's against the law, strictly speaking, to punch a person's head," began Mr. Bramble nervously. "But it's not against the law, confound you, Bramby, to provide a legal excuse for going to jail, is it? He says he's going to put me there. Well, I intend to make it legal and--" "Oh, goodness!" cried Miss Emsdale, in dismay. "--And I'm not going to jail for nothing, you can stake your life on that." "Do you think, Mr. Trotter, that it will add to my happiness if you are lodged in jail on my account?" said she. "Haven't I done you sufficient injury--" "Now, you are not to talk like that," he interrupted, reddening. "But I _shall_ talk like that," she said firmly. "I have not come here to ask you to take up my battles for me but to warn you of danger. Please do not interrupt me. I know you would enjoy it, and all that sort of thing, but it isn't to be considered. Hear me out." She went on with her story. Young Mr. Smith-Parvis, still contending that he was a gentleman and a friend as well as an abject adorer, made it very plain to her that he would stand no foolishness. He told her precisely what he would do unless she eased up a bit and acted like a good, sensible girl. He would have her dismissed without character and he would see to it that no respectable house would be open to her after she left the service of the Smith-Parvises. "But couldn't you put the true situation before his parents and tell 'em what sort of a rotten bounder he is?" demanded Trotter. "You do not know them, Mr. Trotter," she said forlornly. "And they'd kick you out without giving you a chance to prove to them that he is a filthy liar and--" "Just as Mr. Carpenter kicked you out," she said. "By gad, I--I wouldn't stay in their house another day if I were you," he exclaimed wrathfully. "I'd quit so quickly they wouldn't have time to--" "And then what?" she asked bitterly. "Am I so rich and independent as all that? You forget that I must have a 'character,' Mr. Trotter. That, you see, would be denied me. I could not obtain employment. Even Mrs. Sparflight would be powerless to help me after the character they would give me." "But, good Lord, you--you're not going to stay on in the house with that da--that nasty brute, are you?" he cried, aghast.