He must not be beaten, particularly since his defeat would, to some extent, confirm the slander.
He grappled with Wilkinson as a precaution, because another cue stood near, and with a tense effort threw him against the empty stove.

The shock was heavy enough to bring the stove-pipe down, and a cloud of soot fell upon the struggling men, while the pipe rolled noisily across the floor.

Wilkinson, however, stuck to him, and they reeled up and down between the wall and table, getting an arm loose now and then to strike a blow, and scattering the chairs.

Nobody interfered or cleared the ground, and by and by Wilkinson caught his foot and fell down, bringing Festing with him.

After this, they fought upon the floor, rolling over among the chairs, until their grip got slack.