We shall see whether he who exalts himself is not abased, before all is over!' And he was striding away, when Philammon, at the risk of an explosion, stopped him.
'His holiness commanded me to see him, sir, before--' Peter turned on him in a fury.

'Fool! will you dare to intrude your fantastical dreams on him at such a moment as this ?' 'He commanded me to see him,' said Philammon, with the true soldierlike discipline of a monk; 'and see him I will in spite of any man.

I believe in my heart you wish to keep me from his counsels and his blessing.' Peter looked at him for a moment with a right wicked expression, and then, to the youth's astonishment, struck him full in the face, and yelled for help.
If the blow had been given by Pambo in the Laura a week before, Philammon would have borne it.

But from that man, and coming unexpectedly as the finishing stroke to all his disappointment and disgust, it was intolerable; and in an instant Peter's long legs were sprawling on the pavement, while he bellowed like a bull for all the monks in Nitria.
A dozen lean brown hands were at Philammon's throat as Peter rose.
'Seize him! hold him!' half blubbered he.

'The traitor! the heretic! He holds communion with heathens!' 'Down with him!' 'Cast him out! Carry him to the archbishop!' while Philammon shook himself free, and Peter returned to the charge.
'I call all good Catholics to witness! He has beaten an ecclesiastic in the courts of the Lord's house, even in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem! And he was in Hypatia's lecture-room this morning!' A groan of pious horror rose.