"

The noble Marquis, on seeing my distress, said,--

"Mr. Hawkins, the question needs no answer from the policeman; you
will get the benefit of it for what it is worth. The jury will draw
their own conclusions from Mr. Rodwell's objections."

As they did upon the whole case, for they acquitted, much to Mr.
Rodwell's annoyance.

"Now," said the Marquis, "let the officer stand back. I want to ask
what the Baron really did say when he let this man out on bail."

"My lord," answered the witness, "his lordship said as how he looked
upon the whole lot as a _gang of thieves_."

"You've got it now," said Rodwell.

"And so have you," said I. "You should not have objected, and then you
would have got the answer he has just given."

CHAPTER VIII.

A DANGEROUS SITUATION--A FORGOTTEN PRISONER.

I had been to Paris in the summer of 18-- for a little holiday, and
was returning in the evening after some races had taken place near
that city. I had not attended them, and was, in fact, not aware that
they were being held; but I soon discovered the fact from finding
myself in the midst of the motley Crowds which always throng railway
stations on such occasions, only on this particular day they were a
little worse than usual. The race meeting had brought together the
roughs of all nations, and especially from England. As it seemed
to me, my fellow-countrymen always took the lead in this kind of
competition.

I was endeavouring to get to the booking-office amongst the rest of
the crowd, and there was far more pushing and struggling than was at
all necessary for that purpose. Presently a burly ruffian, with a low
East End face of the slum pattern and complexion, rolled out a volley
of oaths at me. He asked where the ---- I was pushing and what game I
was up to, as though I were a professional pickpocket like himself.
He had the advantage of me in being surrounded by a gang of the most
loathsome blackguards you could imagine, while I was without a friend.
I spoke, therefore, very civilly, and said the crowd was pushing
behind and forcing me forward. The brute was annoyed at my coolness,
and irritated all the more.

Hitherto his language had not been strong enough to frighten me, so he
improved its strength by some tremendous epithets, considerably above
proof. I think he must have enjoyed the exclusive copyright, for I
never knew his superlatives imitated. He finished the harangue by
saying that he would knock my head