The muscles in his jaws grew uncomfortably nervous.
"Did you ever hear of the third degree ?" he inquired.

"Well, I'm going to put you through it." "The third degree ?" faltered Gresham.

"I don't quite understand what you mean." "You don't ?" replied Johnny.

"It begins this way"-- and the watchful Loring suddenly hung on Johnny's arm with his full weight.
"Don't!" implored Loring.
"I'm going to smash his head in!" husked Johnny, quivering with an anger to which he had not given way for years.
"Wait a minute!" pleaded Loring, pulling on him with all his strength.
"Wait, I say! I want to help you, but you're in wrong.

Listen to me"-- and he drew his reluctant client away from the table.