“What do you mean by that?”
“What I say.”
“Come, come, no nonsense, young fellow—what do you mean by following that man you have made such a run after?”
“I never explain my affairs to strangers,” said Albert, coldly.
“I’m an officer.”
“I don’t care if you are a dozen officers,” said Albert, “you have nothing to do with my private affairs.”
“But I can take you up on suspicion.”
“Can you?”
“Yes, I can, and for your impudence, I will too.”
“Then,” said Albert, “I’ll knock you down first;” and suiting the action to the word, he grappled with the officer before he was aware, and although much the lighter and weaker of the two, threw him upon his back in the passage with so much violence, that he lay stunned.