"You here? Get out of it, can't you?"
"No, I will not. Leave the man alone I tell you. Would you murder him?"
"Yes—for your sake. Aren't you starving—aren't we both starving? Curse him. I'll have his watch anyhow. Ah, would you!" (There was evidence of some slight show of resistance on the part of Respectability, who was now gathering together his scattered senses.) "Do that and I'll squeeze the life out of you!"
A flutter of skirts and a rush. Then the sound of the woman's voice—a refined voice—raised as in desperation.
"Jabez, Jabez! I'm on the parapet, Jabez, and I swear if you do not leave him I will throw myself into the river!"
"Miriam, come down I say, come down."
"Only if you leave him!"
"Damn him then; let him go to the devil!"
With this he kicked the worthy citizen, who retaliated by suddenly regaining power of speech, and calling loudly for aid.
Then the pilot-fish came in sight again.