he was, low-browed, square-chinned, and with a broad,
broken nose. He wore gaiters, and was a little bandy, very broad, and had
a closely-cropped bullet head, and deep-set little eyes. The moment I saw
him, I beheld the living type of the burglars and bruisers whom I had so
often beheld with a kind of scepticism in _Punch_. He stood over his hamper
and scowled sharply at us for a moment; then with the point of his foot he
jerked a little fur cap that lay on the ground into his hand, drew it tight
over his lowering brows, and called to his companions, just as we passed
him--'Hallo! mister. How's this?'

'All right,' said the tall person in the white great-coat, who, as he
answered, shook his shorter companion by the arm, I thought angrily.

This shorter companion turned about. He had a muffler loose about his neck
and chin. I thought he seemed shy and irresolute, and the tall man gave him
a great jolt with his elbow, which made him stagger, and I fancied a little
angry, for he said, as it seemed, a sulky word or two.

The gentleman in the white surtout, however, standing direct in our way,
raised his hat with a mock salutation, placing his hand on his breast,
and forthwith began to advance with an insolent grin and an air of tipsy
frolic.

'Jist in time, ladies; five minutes more and we'd a bin off. Thankee, Mrs.
Mouser, ma'am, for the honour of the meetin', and more particular for the
pleasure of making your young lady's acquaintance--niece, ma'am? daughter,
ma'am? granddaughter, by Jove, is it? Hallo! there, mild 'n, I say, stop
packin'.' This was to the ill-favoured person with the broken nose. 'Bring
us a couple o' glasses and a bottle o' curacoa; what are you fear'd on, my
dear? this is Lord Lollipop, here, a reg'lar charmer, wouldn't hurt a fly,
hey Lolly? Isn't he pretty, Miss? and I'm Sir Simon Sugarstick--so called
after old Sir Simon, ma'am; and I'm so tall and straight, Miss, and
slim--ain't I? and ever so sweet, my honey, when you come to know me, just
like a sugarstick; ain't I, Lolly, boy?'

'I'm Miss Ruthyn, tell them, Madame,' I said, stamping on the ground, and
very much frightened.

'Be quaite, Maud. If you are angry, they will hurt us; leave me to speak,'
whispered the gouvernante.

All this time they were approaching from separate points. I glanced back,
and saw the ruffianly-looking man within a yard or two, with his arm raised
and one finger up, telegraphing, as it seemed, to the gentlemen in