This seemed to enrage his Lordship.

Hatred and menace shone from his eyes as he glanced at the man opposite him.

With an oath he rose, walked to the door and closed it.
Then ruthlessly laying aside the last vestige of his assumed courtliness, he picked up his stick from the table, leaned far over, shook it in Hugh's face, and became an irascible, shouting old man.
"Look here, young man--Ridge--Ridgeway--or whatever your blasted name--do you think I'll allow you to carry on an affair with my wife--my wife, sir ?" he vociferated.

"Henceforth, I forbid you to speak to her! Do you hear me ?" It was debatable whether Hugh was more astonished at the mention of Lady Huntingford's name in connection with his own, or at the stick in dangerously close proximity to his countenance.

It was some time before he could find words; but his face from red went white.
"And if I decline ?" There was that in the low tone that should have warned the aggressor from further insult; but forgetting that the swaggering domination he had been accustomed to exercising over his own countrymen, officially his inferiors, would not for a moment be tolerated by one of another nationality, he again broke out: "You bounder! Yankee upstart! I'll thrash you, and then have the captain put you on shore at the first port--you infernal impostor!" In an instant Hugh was over the table.