He might not be much of a hand at boxing; but I was much mistaken, or he had studied forensic eloquence in a good school.

In this predicament I could think of nothing more ingenious than to burst out of the house, under the pretext of an ungovernable rage.

It was certainly not very ingenious--it was elementary, but I had no choice.
'You white-livered dog!' I broke out.

'Do you dare to tell me you're an Englishman, and won't fight?
But I'll stand no more of this! I leave this place, where I've been insulted! Here! what's to pay?
Pay yourself!' I went on, offering the landlord a handful of silver, 'and give me back my bank-note!' The landlord, following his usual policy of obliging everybody, offered no opposition to my design.

The position of my adversary was now thoroughly bad.