"Know him? Not I."
"Well, my darling," said the gent, reaching to within a couple of paces of Arabella, "how do you do to-day?—a-hem! Are you going far? Ain't you afraid that somebody will run away with such a pretty gal as you—'pon soul, you are a charmer."
"Cross," whispered Arabella, and the two young girls at once crossed Fleet Street. It was not then so difficult an operation to get from one side of that thoroughfare to the other as it is now. The gent was by no means disconcerted at this evident wish to get out of his way, but he crossed likewise, and commenced a series of persecution, which such animals call gallantry, and which, to any respectable young female, are specially revolting.
"Now, my dear," he said, "St. Dunstan's is just going to strike the hour, and you will see the clubs hit the bells if you look, and I shall expect a kiss when it's all over."
"You are impertinent," said Johanna.
"Come, that's a good joke—why, you little whipper snapper, I suppose you came out to take care of your sister. Here's a penny to go and buy yourself a cold pie at Mrs. Lovett's. I'll see to your sister while you are gone. Oh, you need not look so wild about it. Did you never hear of a gent talking to a pretty gal in the street?"
"Often," said Johanna, "but I never heard of a gentleman doing so."
"Upon my word, you are as sharp as a needle, so I'll just pull your ears to teach you better manners, you young rascal—come—come, it's no use your kicking."
"Help—help!" cried Arabella.
They were now just opposite the principal entrance to the Temple, and as Arabella cried "help," who should emerge from under the gateway but Ben the Beef Eater. The fact is, that he was on his way to the Tower just previous to the meeting with Colonel Jeffery and Tobias. Arabella, who had twice or thrice seen him at the Oakley's, knew him at once.