He was brushing off his clothes while glaring at a little, stout, red-faced man who appeared about to be stricken by apoplexy.

This latter was a Colonel Pepper, whose acquaintance Lane had recently made.

He was fond of cards and sport, and appeared to be a favorite with the young men about town.

Moreover he had made himself particularly agreeable to Lane, in fact to the extent of Lane's embarrassment.

At this moment the stranger lost his consternation wholly in wrath, and made a threatening movement toward Pepper.