Oh, he was gathering courage fast now that there no longer was the need for it.

It urged him to lengths of daring possible only to a fool.
"If you can take a blow, Mr.Wilding," said he offensively, "that is your own affair." And his friends gasped at his temerity and trembled for him, not knowing what grounds he had for counting himself unassailable.
"Just so," said Mr.Wilding, as meek and humble as a nun, and Trenchard, who had expected something very different from him, swore aloud and with some circumstance of oaths.

"The fact is," continued Mr.Wilding, "that what I did last night, I did in the heat of wine, and I am sorry for it.

I recognize that this quarrel is of my provoking; that it was unwarrantable in me to introduce the name of Mistress Westmacott, no matter how respectfully; and that in doing so I gave Mr.Westmacott ample grounds for offence.

For that I beg his pardon, and I venture to hope that this matter need go no further." Vallancey and Blake were speechless in astonishment; Trenchard livid with fury.