"What's all this, Butler?" said he. "Here's the whole office in commotion. Willis is up with the chief clerk and old Brand telling them that you drew a revolver and threatened his life, and swore if you had n't an answer by tomorrow at twelve, you'd blow Sir Harry's brains out."
"It's somewhat exaggerated. I had no revolver, and never had one. I don't intend any violence beyond kicking that fellow, and I 'll not do even that if he can manage to be commonly civil."
"The Chief wishes to see this gentleman upstairs for a moment," said a pale, sickly youth to Skeffington.
"Don't get flurried. Be cool, Butler, and say nothing that can irritate,--mind that," whispered Skeffington, and stole away.
Butler was introduced into a spacious room, partly office, partly library, at the fireplace of which stood two men, a short and a shorter. They were wonderfully alike in externals, being each heavy-looking white-complexioned serious men, with a sort of dreary severity of aspect, as if the spirit of domination had already begun to weigh down even themselves.
"We have been informed," began the shorter of the two, in a slow, deliberate voice, "that you have grossly outraged one of the inferior officers of this department; and although the case is one which demands, and shall have, the attention of the police authorities, we have sent for you--Mr. Brand and I--to express our indignation,--eh, Brand?" added he, in a whisper.
"Certainly, our indignation," chimed in the other.
"And aware, as we are," resumed the Chief, "that you are an applicant for employment under this department, to convey to you the assurance that such conduct as you have been guilty of totally debars you--excludes you--"
"From the most remote prospect of an appointment!" said the first, taking up a book, and throwing it down with a slap on the table, as though the more emphatically to confirm his words.
"Who are you, may I ask, who pronounce so finally on my prospects?" cried Tony.
"Who are we,--who are we?" said the Chief, in a horror at the query. "Will you tell him, Mr. Brand?"
The other was, however, ringing violently at the bell, and did not hear the question.
"Have you sent to Scotland Yard?" asked he of the servant who came to his summons. "Tell Willis to be ready to accompany the officer, and make his charge."