"Again to-night!" exclaimed Grimaldi.
"As sure as fate," replied the officer, nodding to a friend who was passing down the street on the other side of the way,—"and if your establishment an't large enough, and powerful enough to resist 'em—"
"Large and powerful enough!" exclaimed the other,—"why there are only three women and one other male person besides myself in the house."
"Ah!" said Mr. Trott, "that isn't near enough."
"Enough! no!" rejoined Grimaldi; "and it would kill my mother."
"I dare say it would," acquiesced the officer; "my mother was killed in a similar manner."
This, like the rest of the officer's discourse, was far from consolatory, and Grimaldi looked anxiously in his face for something like a ray of hope.
Mr. Trott meditated for some short time, and then, looking up with his head on one side, said, "I think I see a way now, master."
"What is it? What do you propose? I'm agreeable to anything," said Grimaldi, in a most accommodating manner.