And he places himself as a barricade before Leslie and the child, waving back the infuriated old woman with a gesture of menace. And then heavy feet come trampling across the threshold. Men in police uniform fill up the doorway, and the foremost of them says, as he approaches the Prodigal: "Franz Francoise, I arrest you in the name of the law!" The priest and his two witnesses start perceptibly, and turn their faces toward Franz. Papa and Mamma slink back toward the inner room. Leslie lifts her head and looks wonderingly at the new-comers. Only Franz remains undisturbed. With a swift movement, he whisks out a pair of revolvers and presents them, muzzle foremost, to the speaker. "Not just yet!" he says coolly; "I ain't quite ready. Ye've interrupted me, and ye'll have to wait." One of his hands is slightly uplifted and, for just an instant, his head turns toward the inner room. The two witnesses, making way for the police, lounge nearer to Papa and Mamma. "You had better not resist, Franz Francoise," says the leader once more. "You can't escape us now." "No; I s'pose not," assents Franz. "Oh, I know I'm cornered, but wait." He moves aside and looks down upon Leslie. "This lady," he says quietly, "and her little gal, are here by accident, and they ain't to be mixed up in this business o' mine. Look here, Mr. Preach--" The Priest comes forward, and glances at him inquiringly. "Ye can't afford to lose yer time altogether, I s'pose, and I'll give ye a new contract. Ye see this lady and the little gal are being scared by these cops. I want you to take 'em away. The lady'll tell ye where to go, and don't ye leave 'em till ye've seen 'em safe home." Without a word of comment, the Priest moves toward Leslie. At the same instant, and with a howl of rage, Mamma rushes forward. "Stop her!" says Franz; and one of the two witnesses lays a strong hand upon Mamma's shoulder. [Illustration: "Not just yet; I ain't quite ready!"--page 410.] Then the Prodigal turns to Leslie, who, with the child in her arms, has risen to her feet. "Go," he says gently; "you are free and safe. Go at once. That old woman will harm you if she can." With a start and a sudden bounding of her pulses, Leslie looks into the face of the Prodigal, only an instant, for he turns it away. And all bewildered, pallid and trembling, she yields to the gentle force by which the Priest compels her to move, mechanically, almost blindly, from the room. The officers step back to let her pass. And as she reaches the outer air, she has a shadowy vision of Franz Francoise, with pistols in hand, standing at bay; of Mamma struggling in the grasp of the humble citizen, and uttering yells of impotent rage. She feels the cool air upon her brow, and clasps the child closer in her arms, believing herself to be moving in a dream. Then the voice of the Priest assures her. "Give me the child, Mrs. Warburton," he says respectfully, "and lean on my arm. We have a carriage near."