To which the latter retorted that the first innings in a court of law would be his: he had already put the matter in the hands of his attorney.

This was the last straw.

Purdy had to intervene and get Mahony away.

They left the agent shaking his fist after them and cursing the bloody day on which he'd ever been fool enough to do a deal with a bloody gentleman.
At the corner of the street the friends paused for a hasty conference.
Mahony was for marching off to take the best legal advice the city had to offer.

But Purdy disapproved.