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touch him？'
'I'll take him home；' said the tall man； advancing towards me。 I
made an attempt to rise。 But I grew deadly ill； fell back； and
remember nothing more。
When I came to myself I was lying on a bed in a miserable place。 A
middle…aged woman of degraded countenance； but kindly eyes； was
putting something to my mouth with a teaspoon： I knew it by the
smell to be gin。 But I could not yet move。 They began to talk
about me； and I lay and listened。 Indeed； while I listened； I lost
for a time all inclination to get up； I was so much interested in
what I heard。
'He's comin' to hisself；' said the woman。 'He'll be all right by and
by。 I wonder what brings the likes of him into the likes of this
place。 It must look a kind of hell to them gentle…folks； though we
manage to live and die in it。'
'I suppose；' said another； 'he's come on some of Mr。 Falconer's
business。'
'That's why Job's took him in charge。 They say he was after
somebody or other； they think。No friend of Mr。 Falconer's would be
after another for any mischief；' said my hostess。
'But who is this Mr。 Falconer？Is Long Bob and he both the same
alias？' asked a third。
'Why； Bessy； ain't you no better than that damned Slicer； who ought
to ha' been hung up to dry this many a year？ But to be sure you
'ain't been long in our quarter。 Why； every child hereabouts knows
Mr。 Falconer。 Ask Bobby there。'
'Who's Mr。 Falconer； Bobby？'
A child's voice made reply；
'A man with a long； long beard； that goes about； and sometimes grows
tired and sits on a door…step。 I see him once。 But he ain't Mr。
Falconer； nor Long Bob neither；' added Bobby in a mysterious tone。
'I know who he is。'
'What do you mean； Bobby？ Who is he； then？'
The child answered very slowly and solemnly；
'He's Jesus Christ。'
The woman burst into a rude laugh。
'Well；' said Bobby in an offended tone； 'Slicer's own Tom says so；
and Polly too。 We all says so。 He allus pats me on the head； and
gives me a penny。'
Here Bobby began to cry； bitterly offended at the way Bessy had
received his information； after considering him sufficiently
important to have his opinion asked。
'True enough；' said his mother。 'I see him once a…sittin' on a
door…step； lookin' straight afore him； and worn…out like； an' a lot
o' them childer standin' all about him； an' starin' at him as mum as
mice； for fear of disturbin' of him。 When I come near； he got up
with a smile on his face； and give each on 'em a penny all round；
and walked away。 Some do say he's a bit crazed like； but I never
saw no sign o' that； and if any one ought to know； that one's Job's
Mary； and you may believe me when I tell you that he was here night
an' mornin' for a week； and after that off and on； when we was all
down in the cholerer。 Ne'er a one of us would ha' come through but
for him。'
I made an attempt to rise。 The woman came to my bedside。
'How does the gentleman feel hisself now？' she asked kindly。
'Better； thank you；' I said。 'I am ashamed of lying like this； but I
feel very queer。'
'And it's no wonder； when that devil Slicer give you one o' his even
down blows on the top o' your head。 Nobody knows what he carry in
his sleeve that he do it withonly you've got off well； young man；
and that I tell you； with a decent cut like that。 Only don't you go
tryin' to get up now。 Don't be in a hurry till your blood comes
back like。'
I lay still again for a little。 When I lifted my hand to my head； I
found it was bandaged up。 I tried again to rise。 The woman went to
the door； and called out；
'Job； the gentleman's feelin' better。 He'll soon be able to move； I
think。 What will you do with him now？'
'I'll go and get a cab；' said Job； and I heard him go down a stair。
I raised myself； and got on the floor； but found I could not stand。
By the time the cab arrived； however； I was able to crawl to it。
When Job came； I saw the same tall thin man in the long dress coat。
His head was bound up too。
'I am sorry to see you too have been hurtfor my sake； of course；'
I said。 'Is it a bad blow？'
'Oh！ it ain't over much。 I got in with a smeller afore he came
right down with his slogger。 But I say； I hope as how you are a
friend of Mr。 Falconer's； for you see we can't afford the likes of
this in this quarter for every chance that falls in Slicer's way。
Gentlemen has no business here。'
'On the contrary； I mean to come again soon； to thank you all for
being so good to me。'
'Well； when you comes next； you'd better come with him； you know。'
'You mean with Mr。 Falconer？'
'Yes； who else？ But are you able to go now？ for the sooner you're
out of this the better。'
'Quite able。 Just give me your arm。'
He offered it kindly。 Taking a grateful farewell of my hostess； I
put my hand in my pocket； but there was nothing there。 Job led me
to the mouth of the court； where a cab； evidently of a sort with the
neighbourhood； was waiting for us。 I got in。 Job was shutting the
door。
'Come along with me； Job；' I said。 'I'm going straight to Mr。
Falconer's。 He will like to see you； especially after your kindness
to me。'
'Well； I don't mind if I do look arter you a little longer； for to
tell the truth；' said Job； as he opened the door； and got in beside
me； 'I don't over and above like the look of thehorse。'
'It's no use trying to rob me over again；' I said； but he gave no
reply。 He only shouted to the cabman to drive to John Street；
telling him the number。
I can scarcely recall anything more till we reached Falconer's
chambers。 Job got out and rang the bell。 Mrs。 Ashton came down。
Her master was not come home。
'Tell Mr。 Falconer；' I said； 'that I'm all right； only I couldn't
make anything of it。'
'Tell him；' growled Job； 'that he's got his head broken； and won't
be out o' bed to…morrow。 That's the way with them fine…bred ones。
They lies a…bed when the likes o' me must go out what they calls
a…custamongering； broken head and all。'
'You shall stay at home for a week if you like； Jobthat is if I've
got enough to give you a week's earnings。 I'm not sure though till
I look； for I'm not a rich man any more than yourself。'
'Rubbish！' said Job as he got in again； 'I was only flummuxing the
old un。 Bless your heart； sir； I wouldn't stay innot for nothink。
Not for a bit of a pat on the crown； nohow。 Home ain't none so
nice a place to go snoozing innohow。 Where do you go to；
gov'nor？'
I told him。 When I got out； and was opening the door； leaning on
his arm； I said I was very glad they hadn't taken my keys。
'Slicer nor Savoury Sam neither's none the better o' you； and I
hopes you're not much the worse for them；' said Job； as he put into
my hands my purse and watch。 'Count it； gov'nor； and see if it's all
right。 Them pusses is mannyfactered express for the convenience o'