There was something in the quietly uttered words which made Dodwell wince as if they had pricked him. He seemed in doubt how to treat the challenge which they conveyed; that they did convey a challenge was plain; his reply, when it came, was both sullen and undignified. "If I want to go I shall go, and you shan't stop me." Draycott's rejoinder was so curt as to be contemptuous. "You know better than that." "Why should I know better? I have taught you one lesson already. Shall I teach you another? I'll be hanged if I'll stay in a room in which you are." "Dodwell!" The sharp utterance of his name conveyed both a command and a threat, as the other seemed to perceive. He had made a half-movement towards the door, and had already stretched out his hand to open it--the tone in which Draycott pronounced his name seemed all at once to check him. "Are you speaking to me," he demanded with what was almost a snarl, "or to a dog? Hang your impudence! Do you suppose I'm going to allow you to dictate to me whether I am to go or stay?" Ignoring the speaker, Noel Draycott turned to the others. "Will you men be so good as to see that Captain Dodwell doesn't leave the room until I've given the explanation which I am going to give? I am not very fit at present; in fact, it's against the doctor's orders that I'm here at all; but, as matters were going, I felt I had to come. If I were fit, I shouldn't trouble you; I should make it my own particular business to see that Captain Dodwell didn't leave the room until I'd finished; as it is, I'm afraid I must." Clifford voiced the general feeling by the question which he put. "Why do you want to go, Dodwell--what's up?" Anthony Dodwell made an unsuccessful effort to treat the speaker with the air of insolence which they knew so well. "Really, Mr. Clifford, I have yet to learn that I am to be called to account for my goings and comings by you." "All the same, there's no reason why you shouldn't answer my question. Here's Noel come back out of the grave, as it were. It's pretty plain that he's been in the wars, and you know well enough what a pother there's been; especially when he asks you, why can't you stop and hear whatever he has to say?" "Because I'd sooner go. If that doesn't appear to be a sufficient reason, I'm sorry." "One moment, Captain Dodwell, if you please." The interpolation came from Major Reith. Dodwell already had the door partly open. "Well, major, what can I do for you--with your one moment?" "To begin with, you can shut that door." Striding forward with unexpected rapidity, the major, wresting the door from his grasp, shut it sharply. "Reith! Do you imagine that I am going to take my orders, in such a manner, from you?"