“Even men of straw,” answered the other thickly, “find sometimes a defender.  By God, I’ll not endure it!”

“All this,” said Cary scornfully,—­“all this for the usual, the familiar, the expected Federalist criticism of Republican precept and practice!  What, specifically, is it, Mr. Rand, that you’ll not endure?”

“I’ll endure,” replied Rand, in a strained, monotonous, and menacing voice, “no taunt from you.”

As he spoke, he threw himself forward.  “Have a care, sir!” cried Cary, and flung out his arm.  He had seen, and the men around had seen, the intention of the blow.  It was not struck.  Amid the commotion that arose, Rand suddenly, and with an effort so violent and so directed that it had scarcely been in the scope of any other there, checked himself upon the precipice’s verge, stood rigid, and strove with white lips for self-command.  His inmost, his highest man had no desire to feel or to exhibit ungoverned rage, but there was a legion against him—­and the black and furious dog.  The coffee house was in a ferment.  “Gentlemen—­gentlemen!—­What’s the quarrel, Rand?—­Ludwell Cary, I’m at your service!—­Bills and bows! bills and bows!—­or is it coffee and pistols?” Fairfax Cary had sprung to his brother’s side.  Adam Gaudylock, annihilating in some mysterious fashion the distance between the corner table and the group in the light of the fire, was visible over Rand’s shoulder.  Mr. Pincornet, chin in air and with his hand where once a sword had been, tiptoed upon the fringe of the crowd.  The clamour went on.  “Is it a challenge?—­was a blow struck?—­Mr. Cary, command me—­Mr. Rand—­”

Cary and Rand, standing opposed, three feet of bare floor between them, looked fixedly at each other.  Both were pale, both breathing heavily, but for both the unthinking moment had passed.  Reflection had come and was standing there between them.  To Rand it wore more faces than one, but to Cary it was steadily a form in white with amethysts about the neck.  There had been—­it was well, it was best—­no blow struck, no lie given.  Cary drew a long breath, shook himself slightly like a swimmer who has breasted a formidable wave, and broke into a laugh.  “No affront and no challenge, gentlemen!  That is so, is it not, Mr. Rand?”

If there was an instant’s sombre hesitation, it was no more.  “Yes, that is so,” said Rand.  “After all, men should be more stable.  There is no quarrel, gentlemen.”

He bowed ceremoniously to Cary, who returned the salute.  Each moved from where he had stood, and the tide at Lynch’s came between them.  There was some questioning, some excited speech, some natural disappointment at matters going no further.  It was not clearly understood what offence had been given or what taken, but many felt aggrieved by the check on the threshold of a likely affair.  However, it was, they could concede, the business of the two principals, each of whom could afford to ignore any seeming reflection