Despite his host's deprecatory signals, he began to tell stories of an offensive character, and joke about matters not generally held to be amusing in a company of gentlemen.

Captain Oliphant grew hot and nervous.

Mr Armstrong leant back coolly in his chair, and kept his eye curiously on the speaker, an apparently interested listener.

Roger, after the first surprise, flushed wrathfully and fidgeted ominously with his napkin ring.
He was nearly at the end of his tether, and an awkward scene might have ensued, had not Tom opportunely broken in upon the party, very hungry and flushed with a good afternoon's sport.
"Hullo, Ratman!" said he, greeting the visitor; "turned up again?
Got over your black eye all right?
I've told Armstrong to let me know when the next mill comes off, and I'll hold the sponge?
Been telling them some of your rummy stories?
I roared over that you told me about the--" "Be quiet, Tom, and go and wash yourself before dinner," said his father.
"All right.

But I say, Ratman, you'd better steer clear of my young sister Jill.