“Well,” said the man, relapsing into his former confidential tones, “business is business.  If I could see Mr Keswick, I don’t know whether he would employ me or not.  I have no reason to work for one person more than another, and, of course, if one man comes to me and another doesn’t, I’m bound to work for the man who comes.  That’s business!”

“You have said quite enough,” said Lawrence.  “Now leave this place instantly!”

“No, I won’t!” said the man, shutting his mouth very tightly, as he drew himself up and folded his arms on his chest.

Lawrence was young, well-made, and strong, but the other man was taller, heavier, and perhaps stronger.  To engage in a personal contest to compel a fellow like this to depart, would be a very unpleasant thing for Lawrence to do, even if he succeeded.  He was a visitor here, the ladies would probably be witnesses of the conflict, and although the natural impulse of his heart, predominant over everything else at that moment, prompted him to spring upon the impudent fellow and endeavor to thrash him, still his instincts as a gentleman forbade him to enter into such a contest, which would probably have no good effect, no matter how it resulted.  Never before did he feel the weakness of the moral power of a just cause when opposed to brutal obstinacy.  Still he did not retreat from his position.  “Did you hear what I said?” he cried.  “Leave this place!”

“You are not master here,” said the other, still preserving his defiant attitude, “and you have no right to order me away.  I am not going.”

Despite his inferiority in size, despite his gentlemanly instincts, and despite his prudent desire not to make an exhibition of himself before Miss March and the household, it is probable that Lawrence’s anger would have assumed some form of physical manifestation, had not Mrs Keswick appeared suddenly on the porch.  It was quite evident to her, from the aspect of the two men, that something was wrong, and she called out:  “Who’s that?”

“That, madam,” said Lawrence, stepping a little back, “is a very impertinent man who has no business here, and whom I’ve ordered off the place, and, as he has refused to go, I propose—­”

“Stop!” cried the old lady.  And turning, she rushed into the house.  Before either of the men could recover from their surprise at her sudden action, she reappeared upon the porch, carrying a double-barreled gun.  Taking her position on the top of the flight of steps, with a quick movement of her thumb she cocked both barrels.  Then, drawing herself up and resting firmly on her right leg, with the left advanced, she raised the gun; her right elbow well against her side, and with her extended left arm as steady as one of the beams of the roof above her.  She hooked her forefinger around one of the triggers, her eagle eye glanced along the barrels straight at the head of the anti-detective, and, in a clarion voice she sang out “Go!”