He was, in common phrase, to be taken or let alone.

Harwood realized that he must either decline outright or declare his fealty in a word.

It was in no view a debatable matter; he could not suggest points of difference or even inquire as to the nature of the service to be exacted.

He was face to face with a man who, he had felt that night of their first meeting at Fraserville, gave and received hard blows.

Yet he did not doubt that if their relations terminated to-day Bassett would deal with him magnanimously.