It's twelve hours, Horser, and the charge is ridiculous." "You have me behind you." "I can't tell them that at Washington," Mace said.
"It's a fact, all the same.

Don't be so damned nervous." Mace dismissed his clerk, and found his other guests, too, on the point of departure.

But the last had scarcely left before a servant entered with another despatch.
"Release Souspennier." Mace handed it to his companion.
"This settles it," he declared.

"I shall go round and try and make my peace with the fellow." Horser stood in the way, burly, half-drunk and vicious.

He struck his host in the face with clenched fist.