The loudest and coarsest of his tormentors was Mr Fastnet.
At last, however, when, not for the first time, Rosalind's name had been dragged into the conversation, the blood of the Ingletons rose.
The man who had spoken was a young _roue_, little more than Roger's own age, and reputed to be a great man in the circles of the fast.
"Excuse me," said Roger, abruptly interrupting the laugh that followed this hero's jest, "do you call yourself a gentleman ?" A bombshell on the floor could hardly have made a greater sensation.
"What do you mean ?" "I mean, sir, that you're not a gentleman." The young gentleman staggered back as if he had been shot, and gaped round the audience, speechless.
"Hullo, hullo," said some one, "this is getting lively." Another of the party walked to the door and turned the key, and several others hastily finished up the contents of their glasses.
Roger needed all his nerve to keep cool under the circumstances, but he succeeded.
All eyes were turned to the young gentleman, whose move it clearly was next.
He was very red in his face and threatening in his demeanour, but when it came to giving his feelings utterance his courage dwindled down into a-- "Bah! sanctimonious young prig!" The astonishment was now transferred to the onlookers.
"Hullo, Compton, I say," said Fastnet, "did you hear what he called you?
Is that all you've got to say ?" The Honourable Mr Compton's face gradually bleached, as he looked from one to the other.
"He said you were no gentleman," repeated Fastnet, determined there should be no mistake about the matter.

"Isn't that so, youngster ?" appealing to Roger.
"That is what I said," said Roger.
The lily-livered hero was hanging out his true colours at last.
"It's lucky for him," snarled he, "he is only a visitor in this house." Fastnet and one or two of the others laughed disagreeably.
"Ingleton," said the former, taking control of the proceedings generally, "are you willing to repeat what you said outside ?" "Certainly," said Roger; "anywhere you like.

And I shall be delighted to add that he is a coward." "There, Compton.

Surely that satisfies you ?" Mr Compton, very white and downcast, took up his hat.
"Thank you," said he, with a pitiful affectation of superciliousness; "I take no notice of young bumpkins like him," and he turned on his heel.
Fastnet stepped before him to the door.
"Look here, Compton," said he, "you're a member of this club.

Do we understand you funk this affair ?" "I've something better to do than bother my head about him.