"It’s contrary to all history and law and decency and nature. It isn’t possible, I tell you. Here am I trying to revive the P.R. in a first chop, gentlemanly fashion, and then you yokels plan a sin and a shame like this," said Mr. Fogo. He was very much annoyed and returned again and again to the threatened female incursion. Most of the company agreed with him; indeed, only the Bowdens and Simon Snell supported Rhoda as a second. Mr. Shillabeer was doubtful. "Be there any law against it? That’s the question," he said. "Well, I can’t say there is, ’Frosty.’ Of course there’s nought in the rules about it." "Because the rules was drawn for respectable, law-abiding people," answered Mr. Fogo. They wrangled on, while David and Bartley spoke aside. "Did you say that Miss Rhoda was really interested?" asked Crocker. "I shouldn’t like to think that, David. I know I kissed her, like a silly fool, in the Pixies’ House that day of the storm; but she don’t bear malice, I hope, any more than you do?" "Oh, no--no malice. It angered her cruel all the same, as it did me; and she won’t be sorry to see you lose--though there’s no malice--certainly not." "You’re in luck with such a sister and such a wife to be." David changed the subject. "Have they settled where ’tis to come off?" "No--only the day." "Monday week?" "Yes." "I’m going down to Plymouth Monday to practise with the boxers there," said David, and Bartley nodded. "They’ll larn you a lot," he said. Mr. Fogo’s voice again rose in wrath. "The Fancy won’t stand it. Mark me; they’ll hiss her out of the Ring. Such a thing won’t be suffered in a Christian land." The hour grew late and Mr. Maunder looked in somewhat coldly. Since his vital difference of opinion on the subject of the prize-fight, he had withdrawn his patronage from ’The Corner House.’ It was felt that he could hardly be present in the camp of a combatant until the matter of the pending battle was at an end. "Closing time, Mr. Shillabeer," he said, and the ’Dumpling’ nodded. "Right you are, Ernest. Come in and take a thimbleful along with me, won’t ’e?" "No, thank you. Not till this business is over. I’m against you, and I won’t have bit or sup along with the enemy. I speak as the law, Shillabeer, and not as a man. Of course _afterwards_ I shall come back again; but not till I’ve bested you, or you’ve bested me." "Nobody could speak fairer," declared Mr. Shillabeer.