Richard Green rose with a sharp movement. "Jack! I want a word with you. Come outside!" He passed Robin and went to the new-comer, gripping him quickly by the shoulder and turning him back by the way he had come. Jack submitted to the imperative touch. He was taller and broader than his elder brother, but he lacked that subtle something--the distinction of bearing--which in Richard was very apparent. "Well, Dick! What do you want?" he said. "I'm pretty mad, I can tell you. I hope you're going to thrash him well. Because if you don't, I shall." Briefly and decidedly Dick made answer. "No, you won't. You'll not touch him. I shall do--whatever is necessary." "Shall you?" said Jack. "Then why don't you shut him up in a wild-beast house? It's the only place he's fit for." "Shut up, please!" Richard's tone was an odd mixture of tolerance and exasperation. "I'll manage this affair my own way. But I've got to know the truth of it first. What made him throw that stone? Have you been baiting him again?" "I?" Jack squared his shoulders; a sneer crossed his good-looking face. "Oh, say I did it!" he drawled. "Don't be an ass, Jack! Can't you see I want your help?" Richard spoke with insistence; his hand gripped his brother's arm. Jack's sneer turned to a self-satisfied smile. "I'll help you hammer him if you like. There's nothing would please me better. Oh, all right, man! Don't be impatient! That's my funny bone when you've done with it. I don't mind telling you all about it if you want to know. He chucked that stone at me out of sheer damned vindictiveness. He meant to break my head, but he broke the window instead, and frightened Madam Fielding into fits. In her own park too! It's a bit thick, you know, that. I don't wonder that she came straight along to you to demand his blood. You'll have the old man down next; also the beautiful Miss Moore. It's getting beyond a joke, you know, Dick. You'll have to shut the beast up. You can't let him run amuck like this." "Shut up!" Dick said again. In the unnatural light his face looked drawn and almost haggard. "I want to know why he did it. Can't you tell me?" "Oh yes, I can tell you that. He's taken to haunting the place--the Court, mind you--to lie in wait for the fair Juliet. She's been too kind to him, unluckily for her, and now he dogs her footsteps whenever he gets a chance. I caught him this afternoon, right up by the house, and I ordered him off. You know the squire and madam both loathe the very sight of him, and small wonder. I do myself. So I told him what he was and where to go to, and I presume he thought he'd send me there first. There you have it all--cause and effect." "Thank you," said Dick. He paused a moment looking speculatively at Jack's complacent face. "It was a pity you were so damned offensive, but I suppose it's the way you're made. You were the sole cause of the whole thing, and if there's any decency in you, you'll go and tell the squire so."