"No, George," I answered; "it would be worse than useless. But
one thing I do ask of you--you who know me so much better than
most--and it is, that you will bid me good-by, and--take my hand
once more, George here before all these eyes that look upon me as
a murderer, and--"
Before I had finished he had my hand in both of his--nay, had
thrown one great arm protectingly about me.
"Why, Peter--" he began, in a strangely cracked voice, "oh! man
as I love!--never think as I'd believe their lies, an'--Peter
--such fighters as you an' me! a match for double their number
--let's make a bolt for it--ecod! I want to hit somebody.
Never doubt me, Peter--your friend--an' they'd go over like
skittles like skittles, Peter--"
The crowd, which had swelled momentarily, surged, opened, and a
man on horseback pushed his way towards me, a man in some
disorder of dress, as though he had clothed himself in a hurry.
Rough hands were now laid upon me; I saw George's fist raised
threateningly, but caught it in my grasp.
"Good-by," said I, "good-by, George, and don't look so downcast,
man." But we were forced apart, and I was pushed and pulled and
hustled away, through a crowd of faces whose eyes damned me
wherever I looked, along panelled passage ways, and into a long,
dim room, where sat the gentleman I had seen on the horse, busily
tying his cravat, to whom I delivered up the pistol, and answered
divers questions as well as I might, and by whom, after much
jotting of notes and memoranda, I was delivered over to four
burly fellows, who, with deep gravity, and a grip much tighter
than was necessary, once more led me out into the moonlit street,
where were people who pressed forward to stare into my face, and
people who leaned out of windows to stare down upon my head, and
many more who followed at my heels.
And thus, in much estate, I ascended a flight of worn stone steps
into the churchyard, and so--by a way of tombs and graves--came
at last to the great square church-tower, into which I was
incontinently thrust, and there very securely locked up.