than
was said at that time against all women that were actresses--all, that
is, except Mrs. Betterton. She appeared more dreadful even than in the
play, or than when she had spoken those terrible words as she sat in her
chair, all bloody, as she died--stabbed by the mock Friar:

--_but 'tis too late--
And Life and Love must yield to Death and Fate._

I looked at Dolly; but she was laughing, though with a kind of terror in
her eyes too at that sudden apparition.

"Oh, Roger!" she said, "and now she will go and wash it all off, will
she not?"

"Yes, yes," I said. "She will wash it all off." And I looked at her, and
made myself laugh too. She said nothing, but took my arm a little
closer.

* * * * *

I was right about the passage, that it led out to the air, yet not into
Little Russell Street, but to a little yard by which, I suppose, the
players came to their rooms. The frost had fallen very sharp while we
had been in the theatre; overhead the stars tingled as if they shook,
beyond the chimneys, and there were little pools of ice between the
stones.

I stayed an instant when we came down the three steps that led into the
yard, to pull Dolly's hood more closely about her head, for it was
bitter cold, and to gather up my own cloak, and, as I did this, I saw
that three men had followed us out, and were coming down the steps
behind us. There was no one else in the yard. There was one little
oil-lamp burning near one of the two entrances to shew the players the
way, I suppose.

Then, when I had arranged my cloak, I gave Dolly my arm once more, and,
as I did so, heard Anne, who was behind us, suddenly give a great
scream; and, at the sound, whisked about to see what was the matter.

There was a man coming at me from behind with a dagger, and the two
other fellows were behind him.

* * * * *

Now I had not an instant in which to think what to do, though I knew
well enough what they were and whom they were after. What I did, I did,
I suppose, by a kind of instinct. I tore my arm free from Dolly's hand,
pushing her behind me with my left hand, and at the same time dashed my
cloak away as well as I could, to draw out my sword. The fellow was a
little on my right when I was so turned about, but appeared a little
confounded by my quickness, for he hesitated.

"Back to the wall, Dolly!" I shouted. "Back to the wall"; and, at the
same time I