“`AsfarasIknow，Ihaven’topenedmylipsinyourhearing，“Iaffirmedwithperfecttruth。Iwasgettingalittleangry，too，attheabsurdityofthisencounter。ItstrikesmenowIhaveneverinmylifebeensonearabeating——Imeanitliterally；abeatingwithfists。IsupposeIhadsomehazyprescienceofthateventualitybeingintheair。Notthathewasactivelythreateningme。Onthecontrary，hewasstrangelypassive——don’tyouknow？
buthewaslowering，and，thoughnotexceptionallybig，helookedgenerallyfittodemolishawall。ThemostreassuringsymptomInoticedwasakindofslowandponderoushesitation，whichItookasatributetotheevidentsincerityofmymannerandofmytone。Wefacedeachother。Inthecourttheassaultcasewasproceeding。Icaughtthewords：“Well——buffalo——stick——inthegreatnessofmyfear……’
“`Whatdidyoumeanbystaringatmeallthemorning？“saidJimatlast。
Helookedupandlookeddownagain。“Didyouexpectusalltositwithdowncasteyesoutofregardforyoursusceptibilities？“Iretortedsharply。
Iwasnotgoingtosubmitmeeklytoanyofhisnonsense。Heraisedhiseyesagain，andthistimecontinuedtolookmestraightintheface。“No。