"You must come with me to Hatton Garden," said the constable, in a gruff voice. "Come, I can't afford to lose any more time."
Here arose a great outcry, mingled with various exclamations of, "Where's your warrant?" and many consignments of Mr. Lucas to the warmest of all known regions.
"Where's your warrant?" cried Davis, when the noise had in some measure subsided.
The officer deigned no direct reply to this inquiry, but looking at Grimaldi, demanded whether he was ready; in answer to which question the whole party shouted "No!" with tremendous emphasis.
"Look here, Lucas," said Dubois, stepping forward; "you are an old scoundrel!—no one knows that better, or perhaps could prove it easier, than I. Now, so far as concerns Mr. Grimaldi, all we have got to say is, either show us a warrant which authorizes you to take him into custody, or take yourself into custody and take yourself off under penalty of a ducking."
This speech was received with a shout of applause, not only by the speaker's companions, but by several idlers who had gathered round.
"I'm not a-talking to you, Mr. Dubois," said Lucas, as soon as he could make himself heard;—"Mr. Grimaldi's my man. Now, sir, will you come along with me?"
"Not without a warrant," said the rope-dancer.
"Not without a warrant," added Davis.
"Not upon any consideration whatever," said Dubois.