But to forgive such an act as he had been guilty of--that of drawing his sword upon a man who carried no weapons--would have been not only a ridiculous toleration, but an utter neglect of duty.

As an older man it behoved me to read the Chevalier a lesson in manners and gentlemanly feeling.

So, quite dispassionately, and purely for his own future good, I went about the task, and administered him a thrashing that for thoroughness it would be hard to better.

I was not discriminating.

I brought my cane down with a rhythmical precision, and whether it took him on the head, the back, or the shoulders, I held to be more his affair than mine.