By this time, Dewey was on his feet again. The sight of his uncle,
and the unflinching aspect of the person he had ventured to insult,
had the effect to cool off his excitement many degrees.
"What is the meaning of this, young men?" sternly repeated Judge
Bigelow, looking from one to the other.
"I have answered your question as far as I am concerned," replied
Henry.
"Ralph! Speak! Did you offer him an insult?"
To this demand, the nephew replied, with no abatement of his
originally offensive manner--
"If he chooses to consider my words as an insult, let him do so. I
shall in no case take them back."
"What did you say?"
There was an imperative force in the Judge's manner.
Dewey was silent.
"What did he say,"--Judge Bigelow turned to Wallingford, "that you
should answer it with a blow?"
"If he is satisfied with the answer," replied the latter, "the case
can rest where it is. If not, I am ready to meet him on any appeal.
I He will find me no trifler."
The Judge turned again to his nephew.
"Ralph! I insist upon having this matter explained.
Pages:
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136