to consent to some such arrangement? Not even when she found she could have him in no other way? … Never!
Absolutamente … Curse her.… Well, anyhow, there were a few more francs, dinners, and bottles of Chianti. One must take what one can, while one can—and after all the Canteen was worth ten Cafés. Madame had been very kind to-night and would give her final answer to-morrow. That had been a subtle idea of his, telling her that, unless she married him, she should marry no one, and remain a widow all the days of her life, for he'd break the back of any man who so much as looked at her. That had given the old sow something to think about. Ha! Ha! …
As he entered, John Bull was just saying to the Bucking Bronco, "Don't do it, Buck. I know all about that
'Thrice-armed is he who hath his quarrel just,
But four times is he who gets his blow in fust.'
But thrice is quite enough, believe me, old chap. You've no need to descend to such a trick as hitting him unawares, by way of starting the fight."
"Is this my night ter howl, John, or yourn? Whose funeral is it?"
"Fight him by his own methods if you like, Buck—but don't put yourself in the wrong for a start.… You'll win all right, or I shall cease to believe in Eternal Justice of Things."
It had been the purpose of the Bucking Bronco to lessen the odds against himself, to some extent, by intimating his desire to fight, with a shattering blow which should begin, and, at the same time, half win the battle.
