“Inthisstyle，eh？Afterherlifehasbeenmadeahellbyherassociationwithamanofyourreputation，youproposetowhitewashitbyaquarrelwithacoupleofdrunkenscallawagslikeBeeswingerandWynyard，inthepresenceofthreepaintedtrollopsandad——dscamplikemyself！Doyousupposethiswon’tbeblownalloverCaliforniabeforeshecanbesentbacktoschool？Doyousupposethosecacklinghussiesinthenextroomwon’tgivethewholestoryawaytothenextmanwhostandstreat？“AfinecontemptforthesexingeneralwasoneofMr。Hamlin’smostsubtleattractionsforthem。
“Nevertheless，sir，“stammeredthecolonel，“thepromptpunishmentofthemanwhohasdared“——
“Punishment！“interruptedHamlin，“who’stopunishthemanwhohasdaredmost？Theonemanwhoisresponsibleforthewholething？
Who’stopunishYOU？“
“Mr。Hamlin——sir！“gaspedthecolonel，fallingback，ashishandinvoluntarilyrosetothelevelofhiswaistcoatpocketandhisderringer。