erferes with yer business of turning men and women into swine."

"Come now," said Cassidy, making a last stand on his dignity, "this is
a public house, and I am bound to serve drink to anyone that asks for
it. As a matter of fact, I didn't know the lady was in this condition
till the barman sent me in to see what could be done."

"You're a liar, an' a fat liar. I hate fat liars--I don't know
why--an' if yer tell another, I'll ram yer teeth down yer throat.
She's been comin' 'ere for months, an' you've been sending her home
drunk for the sake of a few shillings, to poison my life and make her
name a byword in the neighbourhood. Now, listen to me! You'll not
serve that woman again with drink under any pretext whatever."

"I should be glad to oblige you; but this is a public house, as I said
before..."

He stopped as Jonah took a step forward, his fists clenched,
transformed in a moment into Jonah the larrikin, king of the Cardigan
Street Push.

"D'ye remember me, Cassidy?" he cried. "I've sent better men than you
to the 'orspital in a cab. D'ye remember w'en yer were a cop with one
stripe, an' we smashed every window in Flanagan's pub for laggin'?
D'ye remember the time yer used ter turn fer safety down a side street
w'en yer saw us comin'?"

Cassidy's face stiffened for a moment, the old policeman coming to life
again at the sight of his natural enemy, the larrikin. But years of
ease had buried the guardian of the law under layers of fat. He
stepped hastily back from Jonah's fists.

"No, I won't hit yer; yer might splash," cried Jonah bitterly.

And Cassidy, forgetting that the dreaded Push was scattered to the
winds, and trembling for the safety of his windows, spoke in a changed
voice.

"I'll do anything to meet your wishes, Mr Jones. There's no call to
rake up old times. We've both got on since then, and it won't pay us
to be enemies. I promise you faithfully that your wife shan't be
served with drink here."

"I'm glad to 'ear it," said Jonah; "an' now yer better 'elp me ter git
'er 'ome."

He looked round the room. There were only himself, Cassidy, and Ada.
Mrs Herring, who had been paralysed by the sight of the devil in the
shape of a hunchback, had found herself on the footpath, sober as a
judge, without very well knowing how she got there.

Ada, stupefied with brandy, and tired over the long conversation, had
fallen asleep on the table. Jonah went to the door and called Joe, who
was lis