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Then one voice said； ‘Down with the Papists！’ and there was a
pretty general cheer； but nothing more。 After a lull of a few
moments； one man cried out； ‘Stone him；’ another； ‘Duck him；’
another； in a stentorian voice； ‘No Popery！’ This favourite cry the
rest re…echoed； and the mob； which might have been two hundred
strong； joined in a general shout。
Mr Haredale had stood calmly on the brink of the steps； until
they made this demonstration； when he looked round
contemptuously； and walked at a slow pace down the stairs。 He
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was pretty near the boat； when Gashford； as if without intention；
turned about； and directly afterwards a great stone was thrown by
some hand； in the crowd； which struck him on the head； and made
him stagger like a drunken man。
The blood sprung freely from the wound； and trickled down his
coat。 He turned directly； and rushing up the steps with a boldness
and passion which made them all fall back； demanded：
‘Who did that？ Show me the man who hit me。’
Not a soul moved； except some in the rear who slunk off； and；
escaping to the other side of the way； looked on like indifferent
spectators。
‘Who did that？’ he repeated。 ‘Show me the man who did it。 Dog；
was it you？ It was your deed； if not your hand—I know you。’
He threw himself on Gashford as he said the words； and hurled
him to the ground。 There was a sudden motion in the crowd； and
some laid hands upon him； but his sword was out； and they fell off
again。
‘My lord—Sir John；’—he cried； ‘draw； one of you—you are
responsible for this outrage； and I look to you。 Draw； if you are
gentlemen。’ With that he struck Sir John upon the breast with the
flat of his weapon； and with a burning face and flashing eyes stood
upon his guard； alone； before them all。
For an instant； for the briefest space of time the mind can
readily conceive； there was a change in Sir John’s smooth face；
such as no man ever saw there。 The next moment； he stepped
forward； and laid one hand on Mr Haredale’s arm； while with the
other he endeavoured to appease the crowd。
‘My dear friend； my good Haredale； you are blinded with
passion—it’s very natural； extremely natural—but you don’t know
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friends from foes。’
‘I know them all； sir； I can distinguish well—’ he retorted；
almost mad with rage。 ‘Sir John； Lord George—do you hear me？
Are you cowards？’
‘Never mind； sir；’ said a man； forcing his way between and
pushing him towards the stairs with friendly violence； ‘never mind
asking that。 For God’s sake； get away。 What can you do against
this number？ And there are as many more in the next street；
who’ll be round directly；’—indeed they began to pour in as he said
the words—‘you’d be giddy from that cut； in the first heat of a
scuffle。 Now do retire； sir； or take my word for it you’ll be worse
used than you would be if every man in the crowd was a woman；
and that woman Bloody Mary。 Come； sir； make haste—as quick as
you can。’
Mr Haredale； who began to turn faint and sick； felt how sensible
this advice was； and descended the steps with his unknown
friend’s assistance。 John Grueby （for John it was） helped him into
the boat； and giving her a shove off； which sent her thirty feet into
the tide； bade the waterman pull away like a Briton； and walked
up again as composedly as if he had just landed。
There was at first a slight disposition on the part of the mob to
resent this interference； but John looking particularly strong and
cool； and wearing besides Lord George’s livery； they thought
better of it； and contented themselves with sending a shower of
small missiles after the boat； which plashed harmlessly in the
water； for she had by this time cleared the bridge； and was darting
swiftly down the centre of the stream。
From this amusement； they proceeded to giving Protestant
knocks at the doors of private houses； breaking a few lamps； and
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assaulting some stray constables。 But； it being whispered that a
detachment of Life Guards had been sent for； they took to their
heels with great expedition； and left the street quite clear。
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Chapter 44
hen the concourse separated； and； dividing into chance
Wclusters； drew off in various directions； there still
remained upon the scene of the late disturbance； one
man。 This man was Gashford； who； bruised by his late fall； and
hurt in a much greater degree by the indignity he had undergone；
and the exposure of which he had been the victim； limped up and
down； breathing curses and threats of vengeance。
It was not the secretary’s nature to waste his wrath in words。
While he vented the froth of his malevolence in those effusions； he
kept a steady eye on two men； who； having disappeared with the
rest when the alarm was spread； had since returned； and were
now visible in the moonlight； at no great distance； as they walked
to and fro； and talked together。
He made no move towards them； but waited patiently on the
dark side of the street； until they were tired of strolling backwards
and forwards and walked away in company。 Then he followed； but
at some distance： keeping them in view； without appearing to have
that object； or being seen by them。
They went up Parliament Street； past Saint Martin’s church；
and away by Saint Giles’s to Tottenham Court Road； at the back of
which