liceman was at Jones' side.

Jones took him apart a few steps.

"I am the Earl of Rochester," said he, in a half whisper. "That guy has
got what he wanted--never mind what he was doing--kick the beast awake
and ask him if he wants to prosecute."

The constable came and stood over the head end of the sufferer, who was
now leaning on one arm.

"Do you want to prosecute this gentleman?" asked the constable.

"Nichevo," murmured the other. "No. Brandee."

"Thought so," said Jones. Then he walked away towards the entrance with
the constable.

"My address is Carlton House Terrace," said he. "When you get that chap
on his pins you can tell him to come there and I'll give him another
dose. Here's a sovereign for you."

"Thanks, your Lordship," said the guardian of the Peace, "you landed him
fine, I will say. I didn't see the beginning of the scrap, but I saw the
knock out--you won't have any more bother with him."

"I don't think so," said Jones.

He was elated, jubilant, a weight seemed lifted from his mind, all his
evil humour had vanished. The feel of those whiskers and the resisting
jaw was still with him, he had got one good blow in at circumstance and
the world. He could have sung. He was coming out of the station when
someone ran up from behind.

It was Venetia. Venetia, delirious and jabbering.

"Teresa is in the car--You have done it now--you have done it now. What
_made_ you do this awful thing? Are you mad? Here in the open
station--before everyone--you have h-h-heaped this last disgrace on
us--on _me_."

"Oh, shut up," said Jones.

He sighted the car, ran to it and opened the door. A whimpering bundle
in the corner stretched out hands as if to ward him off.

"Oh! oh! oh!" sighed and murmured the bundle.

Jones caught one of the hands, leaned in and kissed it. Then he turned
to Venetia who had followed him.

"Get in," he said.

She got in. He got in after her and closed the door. Venetia put her
head out of the window:

"Home," cried she to the chauffeur.

Jones said nothing till they had cleared the station precincts. Then he
began to talk in the darkness, addressing his remarks to both women in a
weird sort of monologue.

"All this is nothing," said he, "you must both forget it. When you hear
what I have to tell you to-morrow you won't bother to remember all this.
No one that counts saw that, they were all strangers and making for the
cars--I gave the officer a sovereign. What I have to