It was not the man's fault that he was back on their hands, and he said nothing about that.

As to his complaint, however, he drew a rigid line between the past and the future.

In a word, he declined to interfere in the matter of the cottage until the case should be tried and the Court should give its judgment.
"Hamon must not, of course, interfere with you any further.

But neither must you interfere with him," said the wise man.

"If you should do so he retains the right that every man has of defending himself, and will doubtless exercise it." At which, when he heard it, George smiled crookedly through his swollen lips and half-closed eyes, and Martel found himself out in the cold.
He reconnoitred at a safe distance several times during the day, but each time found Hamon smoking his pipe in the doorway, with a show of enjoyment which his cut lips did not in reality permit.
He stole down in the dark and quietly tried the bolted door, but got only a sarcastic grunt for his pains.
He tried to get a lodging elsewhere, but no one would receive him.
He begged for food.