His face became livid, and his eyes flashed, as he sprang at Gilks, and with a sudden blow, exclaimed, "Take that, then!" It was as good as proclaiming that the game was over.

As Gilks's guilty confidant he had retained to the last some sort of influence; but now, with that blow, the last shred of his superiority had gone, and he stood there beaten before ever the fight began.
Gilks had expected the blow, but had not been prepared for its suddenness.

It struck him full on the cheek, and for a moment staggered him--but only for a moment.

Wasting no words, he returned it vehemently, and next moment the fight had begun.
That fight was not the growth of a day or a week.

For many weeks it had been getting nearer and nearer, sometimes by rapid strides, sometimes by imperceptible steps; but always getting nearer, until now it had suddenly reached its climax; and the cry, "A fight--Gilks and Silk!" spread like wildfire over Willoughby.
The Welchers, in the heyday of their triumph, heard it above even the chorus of the glorious Bouncer; and hearing it, forsook their revelry and hurried towards it.