He pretended, and only pretended, to comply with his patron's request.

Geoffrey rewarded him for his polite forbearance by knocking him down.

The great and terrible rose with unruffled composure.
"Well hit, Sir!" he said.

"Try it with the other hand now." Geoffrey's temper was not under similar control.

Invoking everlasting destruction on the frequently-blackened eyes of Crouch, he threatened instant withdrawal of his patronage and support unless the polite pugilist hit, then and there, as hard as he could.