“Brought them for you,” Statt turned to Fanny ... “set you up.... From Diggens.” “Diggens!” Clara exclaimed. “You’ve pulled Diggens!” “Yes....” “What did she do?” asked Fanny. “Slow on payment. See? And always tryin’ to bargain for a lower price. Yesterday I get mad. Sort of lost my temper. Perhaps I was wrong. Old Dig was a right sort of bitch. Well--too late now. She’s pinched. Here’s good wine, at least.” He kicked the case with heavy boots. He was big and sure. Fanny and Clara stood beneath his imperturbable mass. --How can I thank him? He’s a brute. He’s a monster! Fanny spoke to him: “Don’t kick that case, Lieutenant Jim.” “Why? Afraid I’ll break the bottles?” “No.... Afraid they’ll break you.” “Break _me_!” “Hm ... hm, Lieutenant Jim. You’re so brittle.--O ever so much brittler than bottles.” He looked at her in a pause that ended with a chuckle. “O you don’t say!” The skin of his face was rough: his features were too big. He seemed carved--crudely--by a dull-souled sculptor. “You’re a brittle child,” said Fanny.--Why do I speak so? “And you?” “I’m a child too. You and I are the children here. Yes we are! We two must look out!” “Not Mark?... not Clara?... not Mangel?” “O Mangel is old! and so is Tessie! and so is Clara. You are a stupid, stubborn child, I tell you. Look out. Me too. We mustn’t hurt each other.... And you’d better stop breaking the Law.” “My dear sister child, you don’t seem to understand. I don’t _break_ the Law.” Fanny wavered.--Why do I speak so? “Don’t you know, you come from the South, don’t you?... that gambling and prostitution are illegal in New York? I am an Officer of the New York Police. I am the head of what is known in the papers as the Strong Arm Squad. I raid Houses of gambling and prostitution.” “All----“ “Those that don’t do their duty.” “How can an illegal house do its duty?” “By supporting the Police, of course--the way we must be supported. I have needs----“ Statt’s face was serious and serene. He stretched out a long leg.... “Needs----” and kicked the case of wine. “You don’t savvy much, little stupid woman from Dixie.” She watched him close. “Aren’t you afraid, Jim Statt?” He drew in his leg and crossed it over the other. “I’m an Officer of Police. I’m a Roman Catholic. What have I got to fear?” ... Tessie came in, tossing off her hat. Tessie hated hats and gloves. “--Hasn’t Abe been here? O hello Statt.” “He’s nursing a hurt,” he answered her. “I’ve raised his price.” The little girl glowered over the big man. “You look out,” she muttered. “Don’t hurt Abe Mangel too much.” “No?... why not?” sneered Jim Statt. “He’ll turn good----“