white wristbands over his knuckles; and indeed looked so
grand, that X imagined he beheld a member of parliament, or a person
of consideration before him. Whatever his rank, however, the M.P.,
or person of consideration, was considerably excited by wine; for he
lurched and reeled somewhat in his gait, and his hat was cocked over
his wild and bloodshot eyes in a manner which no sober hat ever could
assume. His copious black hair was evidently surreptitious, and his
whiskers of the Tyrian purple.

As Strong's laughter, following after one of his own gros mots, came
ringing out of window, this gentleman without laughed and sniggered in
the queerest way likewise, and he slapped his thigh and winked at Jeames
pensive in the portico, as much as to say, "Plush, my boy, isn't that a
good story?"

Jeames's attention had been gradually drawn from the moon in the
heavens to this sublunary scene; and he was puzzled and alarmed by the
appearance of the man in shiny boots. "A holtercation," he remarked
afterwards, in the servants'-hall--a "holtercation with a feller in
the streets is never no good; and indeed he was not hired for any
such purpose." So, having surveyed the man for some time, who went
on laughing, reeling, nodding his head with tipsy knowingness, Jeames
looked out of the portico, and softly called "Pleaceman," and beckoned
to that officer.

X marched up resolute, with one Berlin glove stuck in his belt-side, and
Jeames simply pointed with his index finger to the individual who was
laughing against the railings. Not one single word more than "Pleaceman"
did he say, but stood there in the calm summer evening, pointing calmly:
a grand sight.

X advanced to the individual and said, "Now, sir, will you have the
kindness to move hon?"

The individual, who was in perfect good-humour, did not appear to bear
one word which Policeman X uttered, but nodded and waggled his grinning
head at Strong, until his hat almost fell from his head over the area
railings.

"Now, sir, move on, do you hear?" cries X, in a much more peremptory
tone, and he touched the stranger gently with one of the fingers
enclosed in the gauntlets of the Berlin woof.

He of the many rings instantly started, or rather staggered back, into
what is called an attitude of self-defence, and in that position began
the operation which is entitled 'squaring' at Policeman X, and showed
himself brave and warlike, if unsteady. "Hullo! keep your hands off a
gentl