You were born a gentleman, Mr.Beltham, and will not reduce me to request you to behave like one.

I am now in the position, as it were, of addressing a badger in his den.

It is on both sides unsatisfactory.

It reflects egregious discredit upon you, the householder.' The squire hastily bade Sewis see that the passages to the sleeping apartments were barred, and flung the great chain loose.

He was acting under strong control of his temper.
It was a quiet grey night, and as the doors flew open, a largely-built man, dressed in a high-collared great-coat and fashionable hat of the time, stood clearly defined to view.