sts as among
those fellows if they get into the house.'

He threw up the sash, though Emma would not go from his side. In the
street below was a multitude which made but one ravening monster; all
its eyes were directed to the upper storeys of this house. Mutimer
looked to the right and to the left. In the latter quarter he saw the
signs of a struggle Straining his eyes through the dusk, he perceived
a mounted police-officer forcing his way through the throng; on either
side were visible the helmets of constables. He drew a deep sigh of
relief, for the efforts of the mob against the house door could scarcely
succeed unless they used more formidable weapons for assault, and that
would now be all but impossible.

He drew his bead back into the room and looked at Emma with a laugh of
satisfaction.

'The police are making way! There's nothing to fear now.'

'Come away from the window, then,' Emma urged. 'It is useless to show
yourself.'

'Let them see me, the blackguards! They're so tight packed they haven't
a band among them to aim anything.'

As he spoke, he again leaned forward from the window-sill, and stretched
his arms towards the approaching rescuers. That same instant a heavy
fragment of stone, hurled with deadly force and precision, struck him
upon the temple. The violence of the blow flung him back into the room;
he dropped to his knees, threw out a hand as if to save himself, then
sank face foremost upon the floor. Not a sound had escaped his lips.

Emma, with a low cry of horror, bent to him and put her arm about his
body. Raising his head, she saw that, though his eyes were staring, they
had no power of sight; on his lips were flecks of blood. She laid her
cheeks to his lips, but could discern no breath; she tore apart the
clothing from his breast, but her hand could not find his heart. Then
she rushed for a pillow, placed it beneath his head, and began to bathe
his face. Not all the great love which leaped like flame in her bosom
could call the dead to life.

The yells which had greeted Mutimer's appearance at the window were
followed by a steady roar, mingled with scornful laughter at his speedy
retreat; only a few saw or suspected that he had been gravely hit by the
missile. Then the tumult began to change its character; attention was
drawn from the house to the advancing police, behind whom came a band
of Mutimer's adherents, led by Redgrave. The latter were cheering; the
hostile rabble met their c