"D--n his rascally drunken soul!" said Elliston, trying to force open the carriage-door. "I'll settle him! Trust me for having him off his perch in half a second. Of all things I abhor a drunkard!" "For God's sake, Elliston, be quiet," said George Lamb. "You seem to take it perfectly easy," said I, to Lamb, "seeing that all our precious necks are in danger!" "We must take our chance," answered Lamb quietly. "The only thing I particularly dread is the idea of Elliston attempting to drive us home himself. I can bear anything but that." The coachman and footman now appeared to be fighting on the box, Livius was scolding and bawling out of one window, Elliston _faisant un bruit tel qu'il n'y en eut jamais en enfer_, at the other, because he could not get the coach door open, and nobody would come to his assistance. At last he succeeded; the footman made room for him on the box, and Elliston quietly threw the drunken coachman off on to the pavement, box-coat and all, in spite of his swearing and kicking. Livius got out of the carriage, and picked the man up, to ascertain that he was alive, as he fell without uttering a groan. "Oh! for shame, you cowardly wretch, to treat an honest poor coachman in that brutal way! Why you've killed him, poor dear soul!" said an old hag, who happened to pass at the instant. Elliston, still smarting with the knocks, kicks and scratches he had got in his scuffle with the obstinate coachman, was not in a very gentle humour. The woman forced herself in his way, and he, I presume, pushed her rather ungallantly aside. "Oh you coward! oh you coward!" screamed out the woman; "strike a woman, hay! here's a coward for you!" "Oh! Mr. Elliston," said I, shaking my head at him, as he stood at the carriage window. "I only touched her just so," said Elliston, tapping me on the head. "Just so!" repeated his fair antagonist, "why he has half kill'd me; here, watchman! watchman!" The rattle was sprung, and behold Elliston and Livius surrounded by the guardians of the night. What became of the coachman I know not; but, in about five minutes more, Elliston jumped into the carriage and ordered the footman to drive to Mr. Livius's Hotel in Dover Street. "Where is Livius?" asked we all three in a breath. "Gone to the watch-house," said Elliston, with the most perfect composure. "How so?" asked George Lamb. "What has he done?" inquired the young lady in a pet, declaring that no one had been to blame but Mr. Elliston; therefore she would not stir till Mr. Livius was safe. "Nonsense, nonsense! fair lady. Let him use my name at the watch-house!" "Where, I presume, you are well known, Mr. Mountebank," added I. "One of us must have gone," said Elliston, laughing, "and I tell you he will join us before we have finished our supper. It serves him right for having a drunken coachman. Why all our necks would have been broken by this time, but for me."