With tremulous haste, he pulled out the letter-case, extricated Asshlin's cheque, and dropped it into the fire.
There was a pause--a pause of tremendous moment--in which he stood aghast at his own deed. Then Asshlin turned on him, his face purple and convulsed with rage.
"You dare to insult me? You dare to insult me in my own house? You dare to imply that it was the money--the damned money, that I wanted to win back?"
"Good God, no!" he exclaimed with unwonted vehemence. "Such a thought never entered my mind."
"Then what's the meaning of all this? What is it all driving at?"
Asshlin's hard, handsome face was contorted by passion and his hands shook.
"Nothing. It's driving at nothing. It is simply that I do not wish to play."
"And why not?" He suddenly rose, his great body towering above the other's. "Why not? By God, I'll have an answer!"
"No answer? We'll see about that. Who's been lying to you about me? Who's been carrying scandals about me? Out with it!--out with it!"
Then unexpectedly Milbanke's trepidation forsook him. He suddenly straightened himself.
"Then what do you mean by this? What do you mean by meddling in my affairs?"
[Illustration: With a fierce gesture he took another step forward.]
"Your reasons, have you?" Asshlin laughed harshly. "Then I'll have my answer. What do you mean by it?"
For a second the older man remained silent and unmoved; then a light gleamed in his colourless eyes.
"All right!" he said. "You shall have it. Perhaps it is as well. I came here expecting to see the boy I had known grown into a genial, hospitable, honourable gentleman; instead, I find him an undisciplined, tyrannical egotist."
He said it quickly in a rush of unusual vehemence. All his anticipations, all his suspicions, and their subsequent justification--coupled with the new sense of protection towards the children of his early friend--found voice in these words.
"You are an egotist, Denis," he repeated distinctly. "A weak, worthless egotist--not fit to have children--not fit to have a friend----"
Asshlin stared at him for a moment in speechless surprise; then indignation surmounted every other feeling. With a fierce gesture he took another step forward, his eyes blazing, his hand menacingly clenched.