stairs and into the street, he in wrathful pursuit. She fled toward
the Strand.

At the corner of that thoroughfare, she ran into a trio of gentlemen
who just at the moment reached the junction of the two streets.

"The deuce!" cried one of the three, flinging his arms around her.
"What have we here? Beauty in distress?"

"Let me go!" she cried. "Don't let _him_ take me."

"Him!" echoed the gentleman, releasing her. He was a
distinguished-looking fellow of twenty-eight or so, with a winning
face and very fine eyes. "Oh, I see. The villain in pursuit!"

"Egad, that makes you the hero to the rescue, Dick," said one of the
young gentleman's companions.

"Faith, I'll play the part, too," replied Dick. "Fear not, madam."

"Thank you, sir, for stopping her," said Ned, coming up, panting.

"Pray, don't waste your thanks. What shall I do to the rascal, madam?"

"I don't care," she answered. "Don't let him have me."

"None of that, sir," spoke up Ned. "She's a runaway, and I'm her
natural protector."

"Her husband?" inquired Dick.

"No--"

"I congratulate you, madam."

"I'm her brother," said Ned.

"And condole with you in the same breath," finished Dick, to Margaret.
"You're a lady, I see. Pardon my familiarity at first. Sure you
needn't fear me--I have a wife as beautiful as yourself. As for this
relation of yours--"

"He tried to rob me of my necklace and rings. We lodge yonder, where
the light is in the window. He found me packing my trunks to leave
him--"

"And leave him you shall. Shall she not, gentlemen?"

His two companions warmly assented. Ned savagely measured them with
his eyes, but did not dare a trial of prowess against three. Moreover,
their courtly address and easy manners disconcerted him.

"Oh, I sha'n't harm her," he grumbled. "'Twas but a tiff. Let her come
back home; 'twill be all well."

But Madge was not for resigning herself a moment to his mercy. She
briefly explained her situation and her wishes. The upshot of all was,
that the young gentleman called Dick turned to his friends and said:

"What say you, gentlemen? Our friends at Brooks's can wait, I think.
Shall we protect this lady while she packs her trunks, find lodgings
for her this very night, and see her installed in them?"

"Ay, and see that this gentle brother does not follow or learn where
she goes," answered one.

"Bravo!" cried the other. "'Twill be like an incident in a comedy,
Dick."

"Rather like a page of Sm