That evening, while Hallett was busy in his attic, slaving away with redoubled energy at his model, giving it what he looked upon as the final touches before proceeding with the patent, I went down as soon as I heard Revitts come in, his broad face expanding with pleasure as I followed him below to his own particular sanctuary, where, while he was enjoying his after-tea pipe, I opened my business. "Revitts," I said, "I'm going to take you into my confidence, and ask you to keep faith." "Which you may be sure I shall do, Master Antony, if so be I can." "Well, you can, Bill," I replied; and I proceeded to tell him how Linny was annoyed. "That's very unpleasant," he said thoughtfully; "but is it by that same chap?" "Yes." "That'll do," he said, drawing a long breath; "and lookye here, Antony, my young friend, I'm sergeant, and have to set an example now to them as is under--them, I mean--no, I don't--I mean those as--who--are under me--that's right! One's obliged to be particler now. Use of the truncheon forbidden, except when obliged; but if I do meet, that fellow annoying Miss Linny, I shall be obliged to give him a topper--a hangel couldn't help it." "No, no, Bill--no, Mr Sergeant," I began. "Stow that, Antony, no larks. Bill, please, as afore." "Well, then, Bill, that is one of the things you must not do. All I want is for you to let him see that you live here, and that Miss Hallett is under your protection. He won't face you, and as soon as he finds that you are here he will keep away." "But he must be taken for his assault on the police, Antony." "No, no: let him go on in his own way. If you take him, there will be a great deal of inquiry and exposure that would be most painful to all my friends. We should have to go into the witness-box and be cross-examined, and it would be extremely painful to me, both on my own behalf and that of others." "You wouldn't like it, Antony?" he said. "No, indeed I should not," I replied. "That's enough, dear lad," he exclaimed, giving the table a rap with his fist. "That's settled; but I may give him a word or two of a sort, eh? Just show him I know him, and move him on pretty sharp?" "As much of that as you like," I said; "I leave it in your hands. What I ask of you is, as an officer, to see that we are not pestered by that man." "It's as good as done, Ant'ny," he exclaimed, stuffing some more tobacco in his pipe. "It's better than done, my dear," said Mary decisively. "When my William says a thing's as good as done, you may make yourself comfortable about it." Revitts said no more about it in the future, only once when he met me at the door, chuckling to himself, and shaking his head. "What are you laughing at?" I asked. "Only about him," he replied. "I just run again him at the corner, and said about six words to him." "Well?"