“Were it not that I respect your poor, ill-used wife――were it not that you are in a beastly state of intoxication, I would fell you to the earth.” Bristow laughed derisively. “You――you fell me to the earth,” he repeated, in a sneering tone. Peace by this time was wild with fury. Seeing that a desperate scene of violence was likely to take place, Mrs. Bristow flung herself in front of her husband, and said, in a deprecating tone―― “John――John, for mercy’s sake do not make so foul a charge;” then turning to Peace, she murmured, “Take no notice of what he says, Mr. Peace. Do not heed his words. He knows not what he’s saying.” “Don’t I?” returned Bristow, with another jerk and a nod, “don’t I? I aint to be gammoned if you are. I know my way about.” “Silence! Hold your tongue, John. Do be quiet!” “You think I’m a fool, I ’spose,――eh?” said Bristow, in continuation. “How about that young swell――that lad of a chap ’as comes here? Be he arter you or Bessie? I’m a fool, am I?” “Abuse me as much as you like――I am used to it; but don’t take away other persons’ characters,” ejaculated the miserable wife. “Oh, Mr. Peace, he’ll be sorry for what he’s said to-morrow. Take no notice of him. Pray don’t, for my sake.” “For your sake I would do much; but he will have to answer for this; not now, perhaps, for he is not sober, but he will have to answer for it, and that he will soon know to his cost.” “Shall I? Oh, very good. I’ll answer for it whenever you like.” “John, be quiet,” urged the unhappy wife. “Well, then, send for something to drink.” “You’ve had enough.” “Have I? Then I’ll have more!” exclaimed Bristow, rising from his chair and staggering towards the door. “Who’s got any money? Have you got any, Mr. Burglar?” Peace, who was standing near the door, lost all command over his temper. He struck the man a terrible blow between the eyes which felled him like an ox. The women both screamed with fright. A policeman, who was passing, entered the parlour, and found Peace and Bristow wrestling like two athletes. “Now then,” said the constable; “let’s have no more of this, or I’ll lock you both up.” He parted the two combatants, who stood glaring at one another like two wild animals. “He took me unawares, and gave me a prop atween the eyes,” said Bristow, who was by this time a little sobered. “He’s been beating his wife, the wretch,” said Bessie Dalton. “Been trying to throttle her.” “Do you charge him?” inquired the policeman of Mrs. Bristow. “Oh, dear no. He was not sober at the time. I don’t want anyone to be charged.” “I told yon chap that he were a burglar, and he didn’t like to hear the truth,” ejaculated Bristow, with a chuckle. “The man’s mad drunk――he’s been creating a disturbance the whole of the evening, and, because we came into the room to prevent murder being done, he’s been as insulting as possible,” said Peace. “He ought to be locked up, to prevent him from doing further mischief. Will anyone charge him?”