MARCUS (with deep despair in his voice).  “Perfectly free, sir.  I admit your rights.  And I hereby pledge myself not to intrude upon you or her—­at least, until you are convinced of the great injustice of your conduct toward me, and invite me again to your house.  But there is one thing more!”

THE INVENTOR (impatiently).  “One thing more! will this dialogue never end?  Well, sir.  What the devil is it?” Then he added, as if aware of the coarseness and gross impropriety of that expression.  “Excuse me, sir, but it is late, and my machine is waiting.”

MARCUS (slowly and firmly).  “One moment, sir.  I have sworn my innocence before God, with the most solemn oath known to man.  I may have misconstrued your remarks, but I thought you still doubted me.  It is my misfortune to be extremely sensitive upon the point of honor.  Having relinquished your acquaintance and that of—­of—­your daughter, it is now my duty to ask whether you presume to question my oath?”

THE INVENTOR (with increased impatience).  “Why should I be bored with this cross-examination?  I have never said I doubted your oath.”

MARCUS (quickly).  “That is not an answer.  Do you believe me, or disbelieve me?  Am I a liar and perjurer, or not?  In one word; yes, or no!”

THE INVENTOR (laughing nervously).  “Will you bully me in my own house, sir?  There is the door.  Out of it!”

There was a noise like the opening of a door.

MARCUS (between his teeth).  “Never, sir.  Never, until you retract your imputation upon my honor.”

THE INVENTOR (losing all control of himself).  “Curse your honor.  If you had been more careful of it in your native village—­where you are best known—­it would not trouble you now.  Come, there are the stairs.”

MARCUS.  “Once more.  Do you believe my oath, or not?”

THE INVENTOR (shouting).  “No! no! a million times, no! since you drive me to it.  I believe you to be a crafty scoundrel, who has been trying to ruin my daughter.  Out, sir, now—­out!”

Then was a sound of two men clenching, and struggling toward the door.  A noise followed like that caused by the sharp closing of the door; but the two men were still in the room, for their scuffling and their short, quick grunts of exertion could be heard with increased distinctness.  The noise indicated that one was pushing the other toward the centre of the room.  Then followed the dull, nauseating sound of blows, apparently struck with fists upon heads and chests, mingled with noisier but still partly suppressed groans, and defiances.

The conversation which preceded this struggle, had come to Pet’s ears with such distinctness, and made such a terrifying impression upon her mind, that it seemed as if she could see the combatants.