"Oh, if you would be so kind," she said in a delightfully soft voice. "I do not wish to speak with these men. If you could send them away--right away----" "Why, of course," replied Tony with his most cheerful smile, "please don't distress yourself." He turned to the two sallow-faced strangers who seemed to have been utterly disconcerted by his sudden appearance on the scene. "Go away," he said, "and hurry up about it." CHAPTER IV LIKE A FAIRY STORY There was a short pause, and then the shorter of the two men stepped forward. He was an aggressive looking person with a cast in his eye, and he spoke with a slight foreign accent. "Sir," he said, "you are making a mistake. We do not intend any insult to this lady. We are indeed her best friends. If you will be good enough to withdraw----" With the gleam of battle in his eye, Bugg ranged up alongside the speaker, and tapped him on the elbow. "'Ere!" he observed. "You 'eard wot the guv'nor said, didn't you?" He jerked his thumb over his left shoulder. "'Op it before you get 'urt." Tony turned to the girl. "You mustn't be mixed up in a street fight," he said. "If you will allow me to see you to a taxi, my friend here will prevent these unpleasant looking people from following us." He offered her his arm, and after a second's hesitation she laid a small gloved hand upon his sleeve. "It is very kind of you," she faltered. "I fear I am going to give you a great deal of trouble." "Not a bit," replied Tony. "I love interfering in other people's affairs." With a swift stride the cross-eyed gentleman thrust himself across their path. "No, no!" he exclaimed vehemently. "You must not listen to this man. You----" With a powerful thrust of his disengaged arm Tony sent him staggering back to the edge of the pavement, where he stumbled over the curb and sat down heavily in the gutter. His companion, seeing his fall, gave a guttural cry of anger and lifting the light stick that he was carrying lashed out savagely at Bugg. As coolly as if he were in the ring the latter ducked under the blow, and coming up with a beautiful straight left knocked his assailant spinning against the lamp-post. [Illustration: Tony sent the fellow staggering back to the edge of the pavement. His companion lashed out savagely at Bugg. The latter ducked under the blow, and coming up with a beautiful straight left, knocked his assailant spinning. Tony turned again to the girl. "I am afraid we must tear ourselves away," he remarked. "We shall have half London here in a moment."] Tony turned again to the girl at his side. "I am afraid we must tear ourselves away," he remarked. "We shall have half London here in a moment." Already from down the street came the shrill blast of a whistle, followed a moment later by the sound of running footsteps. Heedless of these warnings the two strangers, now apparently reckless with fury, were collecting themselves for a fresh attack.