The stout gentleman, lurching forward, aimed a blow at Breton which missed him.
"Let her alone, do you hear?" cried Breton.
The stout gentleman, amazed, apparently, at a world that defied all the probabilities, turned, caught the girl by the body and, dragging her with him, pushed past his opponent.
Breton seized him by the waist, turned him round so that, with a little puzzled gasp, he half fell, half sat upon the cushioned seat against the wall.
Then Breton offered the girl his arm and walked away with her, conscious that an attendant had arrived rather late upon the scene and was now abusing the stout gentleman, whilst a sympathetic little crowd listened and advised.
He walked down the stairs with the girl. "That was decent of you," she said. "Most awfully——"
Beyond the doors the world was a hissing, spurting deluge of rain.
A cab was called and she climbed into it.
"What about coming back?" she said. He shook his head.
"Not to-night. You have a good rest. That's what you want."