In Pall Mall the carriages were fewer, but the coachman did not quicken his pace, doubtless out of regard for M. de Strasbourg, and at the corner of Pall Mall, where the road was quite empty, he jerked the horses to a standstill. Instantly M. de Strasbourg ran across the road to the carriage, the coachman bent over on that side to watch, and Mr. Kelly, on the other side, ran forward to the box. M. de Strasbourg wrenched open the door and jumped into the carriage. Mr. Kelly heard a woman's scream and sprang on to the box. The coachman turned with a start. Before he could shout, before he could speak, Kelly showed him a pistol (for he went armed) under the man's nose.
'One word,' said Kelly, 'and I will break your ugly face in with the stock of that, my friend.'
The woman screamed again; M. de Strasbourg thrust his head out of the window.
'Go on,' he shouted with an oath, 'you know where. At a gallop! Kill the horses, they are not mine! Flog 'em to death so you go but fast enough.'
'To the right,' said Kelly, quietly.
The man whipped up the horses. They started at a gallop up St. James's Street.
'To the right,' again whispered Kelly.
The carriage turned into Ryder Street, rocking on its wheels. M. de Strasbourg's head was again thrust from the window.
'That's not the way. Are you drunk, man?--are you drunk?' he cried.
'To the left,' says Kelly, imperturbably, and fingered the lock of the pistol a little.