d not know nor
heed what she meant by her nod and wink. "Get out,--get on,--get out,--I
won't have you behind me." She made a farting noise with her mouth, and
dropping her clothes went out. I followed her, looked at the doors on
each landing as I passed, fearing some one might come out behind me, and
edged downstairs sideways, looking both up and down. One door slightly
opened and closed again; at the street-door the old woman said she was
so sorry, it was all a mistake, and hoped to see me again. My blood
was roused, I would have smashed woman or man who stood in my way, and
eyeing the girl said, "Look at me well, if you meet me in the Strand
again, cut away at once, get out of my sight, or I'll give you in
charge for annoying me, or robbing me, you bloody bitch, look out for
yourself." Then dropping the poker on the mat I went out, glad enough to
be away from the den.

About a fortnight afterwards I saw the girl in the Strand, followed her
for a quarter of an hour, saw her speak to various men, saw that an old,
common, low servant followed her at a distance, occasionally stopping
to speak with her, and turning up a street for that purpose. There was
a fascination about looking at the girl; she was showily but handsomely
dressed, her legs looked lovely. I longed to fuck her again, but without
any intention of gratifying my lust, for I loathed her whilst lusting
for her. She turned up C. t...e Street, stood over the gutter and pissed
standing, the old woman talking to her and partly hiding her whilst
she emptied her bladder. I waited till she had done. It was only about
half-past nine o'clock.

She came towards me thinking I wanted her. I moved back close to a lamp,
and raised my hat. "Look at me you damned whore, you attempted to rob me
the other night, go out of the Strand, or I'll tell the next policeman
you have picked my pocket." She turned on her heels and bolted without
uttering a word, the old woman after her, cursing.

A month or two afterwards I saw her again, she was speaking to a group
of gay women. Said I, "That bitch attempted to rob me the other night at
------ Court." "It's a lie", said she, but again turned round, and ran
up a side-street as fast as she could. I don't recollect seeing her
afterwards.

I often used to go and look at the house when that way, it was such a
needy-looking house outside with a narrow steep staircase starting close
to the street-door. No one would have imagined it was so