"She will have none of him, it seems; nor we either! He is dismissed." Claude, his eyes burning, shrugged his shoulders and did not budge.

If they thought to rid themselves of him by this fooling they would learn their mistake.

They wished him to go: the greater reason he should stay.
A little thing--the sight of a small brown hand twitching painfully, while her face and all the rest of her was still and impassive, had expelled his doubts for the time--had driven all but love and pity and burning indignation from his breast.

All but these, and the memory of her lesson and her will.

He had promised and he must suffer.
Whether Basterga was deceived by his inaction, or of set purpose was minded to try how far they could go with him, the big man turned again to his victim.