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against the fence。
'And then；' he went on； 'what if； instead of closing your eyes； as
you expected； and going to sleep； and forgetting everything； you
should find them come open all at once； in the midst of a multitude
of eyes all round about you； all looking at you； all thinking about
you； all judging you？ What if you should hear； not a tumult of
voices and noises； from which you could hope to hide； but a solemn
company talking about youevery word clear and plain； piercing your
heart with what you could not deny；and you standing naked and
shivering in the midst of them？'
'It is too dreadful！' she cried； making a movement as if the very
horror of the idea had a fascination to draw her towards the
realization of it。 'But；' she added； yielding to Falconer's renewed
grasp； 'they wouldn't be so hard upon me there。 They would not be
so cruel as men are here。'
'Surely not。 But all men are not cruel。 I am not cruel；' he added；
forgetting himself for a moment； and caressing with his huge hand
the wild pale face that glimmered upon him as it were out of the
infinite nightall but swallowed up in it。
She drew herself back； and Falconer； instantly removing his hand；
said；
'Look in my face； child； and see whether you cannot trust me。'
As he uttered the words； he took off his hat； and stood bare…headed
in the moon； which now broke out clear from the clouds。 She did
look at him。 His hair blew about his face。 He turned it towards
the wind and the moon； and away from her； that she might be
undisturbed in her scrutiny。 But how she judged of him； I cannot
tell； for the next moment he called out in a tone of repressed
excitement；
'Gordon； Gordon； look thereabove your head； on the other bridge。'
I looked and saw a gray head peering over the same gap through which
Falconer had looked a few minutes before。 I knew something of his
personal quest by this time； and concluded at once that he thought
it was or might be his father。
'I cannot leave the poor thingI dare not；' he said。
I understood him； and darted off at full speed for the Surrey end of
the bridge。 What made me choose that end； I do not know； but I was
right。
I had some reason to fear that I might be stopped when I reached it；
as I had no business to be upon the new bridge。 I therefore
managed； where the upper bridge sank again towards a level with the
lower； to scramble back upon it。 As I did so the tall gray…headed
man passed me with an uncertain step。 I did not see his face。 I
followed him a few yards behind。 He seemed to hear and dislike the
sound of my footsteps； for he quickened his pace。 I let him
increase the distance between us； but followed him still。 He turned
down the river。 I followed。 He began to double。 I doubled after
him。 Not a turn could he get before me。 He crossed all the main
roads leading to the bridges till he came to the lastwhen he
turned toward London Bridge。 At the other end； he went down the
stairs into Thames Street； and held eastward still。 It was not
difficult to keep up with him； for his stride though long was slow。
He never looked round； and I never saw his face； but I could not
help fancying that his back and his gait and his carriage were very
like Falconer's。
We were now in a quarter of which I knew nothing； but as far as I
can guess from after knowledge； it was one of the worst districts in
London； lying to the east of Spital Square。 It was late； and there
were not many people about。
As I passed a court； I was accosted thus：
''Ain't you got a glass of ale for a poor cove； gov'nor？'
'I have no coppers；' I said hastily。 'I am in a hurry besides；' I
added as I walked on。
'Come； come！' he said； getting up with me in a moment； 'that ain't a
civil answer to give a cove after his lush； that 'ain't got a
blessed mag。'
As he spoke he laid his hand rather heavily on my arm。 He was a
lumpy…looking individual； like a groom who had been discharged for
stealing his horse's provender； and had not quite worn out the
clothes he had brought with him。 From the opposite side at the same
moment； another man appeared； low in stature； pale； and marked with
the small…pox。
He advanced upon me at right angles。 I shook off the hand of the
first； and I confess would have taken to my heels； for more reasons
than one； but almost before I was clear of him； the other came
against me； and shoved me into one of the low…browed entries which
abounded。
I was so eager to follow my chase that I acted foolishly throughout。
I ought to have emptied my pockets at once； but I was unwilling to
lose a watch which was an old family piece； and of value besides。
'Come； come！ I don't carry a barrel of ale in my pocket；' I said；
thinking to keep them in good…humour。 I know better now。 Some of
these roughs will take all you have in the most good…humoured way in
the world； bandying chaff with you all the time。 I had got amongst
another set； however。
'Leastways you've got as good；' said a third； approaching from the
court； as villanous…looking a fellow as I have ever seen。
'This is hardly the right way to ask for it；' I said； looking out
for a chance of bolting； but putting my hand in my pocket at the
same time。 I confess again I acted very stupidly throughout the
whole affair； but it was my first experience。
'It's a way we've got down here； anyhow；' said the third with a
brutal laugh。 'Look out； Savoury Sam；' he added to one of them。
'Now I don't want to hurt you；' struck in the first； coming nearer；
'but if you gives tongue； I'll make cold meat of you； and gouge your
pockets at my leisure； before ever a blueskin can turn the corner。'
Two or three more came sidling up with their hands in their pockets。
'What have you got there； Slicer？' said one of them； addressing the
third； who looked like a ticket…of…leave man。
'We've cotched a pig…headed counter…jumper here； that didn't know
Jim there from a man…trap； and went by him as if he'd been a
bull…dog on a long…chain。 He wants to fight cocum。 But we won't
trouble him。 We'll help ourselves。 Shell out now。'
As he spoke he made a snatch at my watch…chain。 I forgot myself and
hit him。 The same moment I received a blow on the head； and felt
the blood running down my face。 I did not quite lose my senses；
though； for I remember seeing yet another mana tall fellow； coming
out of the gloom of the court。 How it came into my mind； I do not
know； and what I said I do not remember； but I must have mentioned
Falconer's name somehow。
The man they called Slicer； said；
'Who's he？ Don't know the。'
Words followed which I cannot write。
'What！ you devil's gossoon！' returned an Irish voice I had not heard
before。 'You don't know Long Bob； you gonnof！'
All that passed I heard distinctly； but I was in a half faint； I
suppose； for I could no longer see。
'Now what the devil in a dice…box do you mean？' said Slicer；
possessing himself of my watch。 'Who is the blasted cove？not that
I care a flash of damnation。'
'A man as 'll knock you down if he thinks you want it； or give you a
half…a…crown if he thinks you want itall's one to him； only he'll
have the choosing which。'
'What the hell's that to me？ Look spry。 He mustn't lie there all
night。 It's too near the ken。 Come along； you Scotch haddock。'
I was aware of a kick in the side as he spoke。
'I tell you what it is； Slicer；' said one whose voice I had not yet
heard； 'if so be this gentleman's a friend of Long Bob； you just let
him alone； I say。'
I opened my eyes now； and saw before me a tall rather slender man in
a big loose dress…coat； to whom Slicer had turned with the words；
'You say！ Ha！ ha！ Well； I sayThere's my Scotch haddock！ who'll
touch him？'
'I'll take him home；' said the tall man； advancing towards me。 I
made an attempt to rise。 But I grew deadly ill； fell back； and
remember nothing more。
When I came to myself I was lying on a bed in a miserable place。 A
middle…aged woman of degraded countenance； but kindly eyes； was
putting something to my mouth with a teaspoon： I knew it by the
smell to be gin。 But I could not yet move。 They began to talk
about me； and I lay and listened。 Indeed； while I listened； I lost
for a time all inclination to get up； I was so much interested in
what I heard。
'He's comin' to hisself；' said the woman。 'He'll be all right by and
by。 I wonder what brings the likes of him into the likes of this
place。 It must look a kind of hell to them gentle…folks； though we
manage to live and die in it。'
'I suppose；' said another； 'he's come on some of Mr。 Falconer's
business。'
'That's why Job's took him in charge。 They say he was after
somebody or other； they think。No friend of Mr。 Falconer's would be
after another for any mischief；' said my hostess。