Twice or thrice he
is seen to pass his right hand into the left breast pocket of his
sack, where commonly his shining steel is secreted. In another
moment he turns suddenly towards the vender, pushes him aside with
his left hand, and brings his right in close proximity with Mr.
M'Fadden's left listener. That individual exhibits signs of renewed
courage, to which he adds the significant warning: "Not quite so
close, if you please!"
"As close as I sees fit!" returns the other, with a sardonic grin.
"Why don't you resent it?-a gentleman would!"
Following the word, Mr. M'Fadden makes a pass at his antagonist,
which, he says, is only with the intention of keeping him at a
respectful distance. Scarcely has his arm passed when Romescos cries
out, "There! he has struck me! He has struck me again!" and deals
M'Fadden a blow with his clenched fist that fells him lumbering to
the floor. Simultaneously Romescos falls upon his prostrate victim,
and a desperate struggle ensues.
The vender, whose sacred premises are thus disgraced, runs out to
call the police, while the clerks make an ineffectual attempt to
separate the combatants. Not a policeman is to be found. At night
they may be seen swarming the city, guarding the fears of a white
populace ever sensitive of black rebellion.
Like an infuriated tiger, Romescos, nimble as a catamount, is fast
destroying every vestige of outline in his antagonist's face,
drenching it with blood, and adding ghastliness by the strangulation
he is endeavouring to effect.
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