"You foul-mouthed slanderer, I'll indict you for defamation, and give you twelve months in one of her Majesty's jails." "No, you won't," roared the Colonel; "I know the law.

My comments on your character are not written and signed like your knavish lease; it's a privileged communication--VILLAIN! there are no witnesses--SHARPER! By Jupiter, there are, though!" He had caught sight of a male figure just visible at the side of the window.
"Who is it?
MY SON!" "My DAUGHTER!" cried Bartley, catching sight of Mary.
"Come out, sir," said the Colonel, no longer loudly, but trembling with emotion.
"Come here, Mary," said Bartley, sternly.
At this moment who should open the back door of the office but William Hope! "Walter," said the Colonel, with the quiet sternness more formidable than all his bluster, "have not I forbidden you to court this man's daughter ?" Said Bartley to Mary: "Haven't I forbidden you to speak to this ruffian's son ?" Then, being a cad who had lost his temper, he took the girl by the wrist and gave her a rough pull across him that sent her effectually away from Walter.

She sank into the Colonel's seat, and burst out crying with shame, pain, and fright.
"Brute!" said the Colonel.

But the thing was not to end there.

Hope strode in amongst them, with a pale cheek and a lowering brow as black as thunder; his first words were, "Do YOU CALL YOURSELF A FATHER ?" Not one of them had ever seen Hope like that, and they all stood amazed, and wondered what would come next..