'
The same moment we heard a tumult in a neighbouring street. A crowd
was execrating a policeman, who had taken a woman into custody, and
was treating her with unnecessary rudeness. Falconer looked on for
a few moments.
'Come, policeman!' he said at length, in a tone of expostulation.
'You're rather rough, are you not? She's a woman, you know.'
'Hold your blasted humbug,' answered the man, an exceptional
specimen of the force at that time at all events, and shook the
tattered wretch, as if he would shake her out of her rags.
Falconer gently parted the crowd, and stood beside the two.
'I will help you,' he said, 'to take her to the station, if you
like, but you must not treat her that way.'
'I don't want your help,' said the policeman; 'I know you, and all
the damned lot of you.'
'Then I shall be compelled to give you a lesson,' said Falconer.
The man's only answer was a shake that made the woman cry out.
'I shall get into trouble if you get off,' said Falconer to her.
'Will you promise me, on your word, to go with me to the station, if
I rid you of the fellow?'
'I will, I will,' said the woman.
'Then, look out,' said Falconer to the policeman; 'for I'm going to
give you that lesson.'
The officer let the woman go, took his baton, and made a blow at
Falconer. In another moment--I could hardly see how--he lay in the
street.
'Now, my poor woman, come along,' said Falconer.
She obeyed, crying gently.
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