But Champion, I found, was gone—probably to establish an alibi. Perhaps he was right. Questions might be asked in the House about this.
When I turned again to the scene below I found that the crowd had thickened considerably, and that the policeman had once more left the traffic to congest itself, and joined in the game.
"You must tell that young woman to move on," he said to Dicky, not unkindly. "She's causin' a crowd to collect, and that's a thing she can be give in charge for."
"All right," said Dicky hurriedly, "we're all going."
The policeman, struck by this sudden anxiety to oblige, became suspicious.
"All of you?" he said. "'Ow about this mess in the road?"
Robin came to the rescue.
"We'll be back presently and sort it," he said reassuringly.
"Of course," said Dicky, pulling himself together. "Back in 'arf a tick, governor!"
"Don't you go callin' me names," said the policeman, as the spectators indulged in happy laughter.