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222 Glossin being a tall, strong, muscular man, was not unwilling rather to turn upon a stranger whom he hoped to bully, than maintain his wretched cause against his injured patron—"I do not know who you are, sir, and I shall permit no man to use such d—d freedom with me."

Mannering was naturally hot-tempered—his eyes flashed a dark light—he compressed his nether lip so closely that the blood sprung, and, approaching Glossin—"Look you, sir," he said, "that you do not know me is of no consequence. I know you; and, if you do not instantly descend that bank, without uttering a single syllable, by the Heaven that is above us, yon shall make but one step from the top to the bottom."

The commanding tone of rightful anger silenced at once the ferocity of the bully. He hesitated, turned on his heel, and, muttering something between his teeth about unwillingness to alarm the lady, relieved them of his hateful company.