He had his warning.

It was not as Tissot he must act if he would help her, but more warily, more patiently, biding her time, and letting the blow, when the time came, precede the word.

Unwarned, he had acted it is probable as Tissot had acted, weakly and stormily: warned, he had no excuse if he failed her.

Young as he was he saw this.

The fault lay with him if he made the position worse instead of better.
Whether, do what he would, his feelings made themselves known--for the shoulders can speak, and eloquently, on occasion--or the reverse was the case, and his failure to rise to the bait disappointed the tormentor, the big man, Basterga, presently resumed the attack.
"Tissotius pereat, Tissotianus adest!" he muttered with a sneer.