“Charley, Charley!” she cried, and disengaging herself from her companion, she threw herself upon the neck of her brother, for it was he.
But her embrace, passionate and loving as it was, lasted but an instant; in another moment she had again possessed herself of the arm of the young lady.
“We are safe now! oh, we are safe now!” she cried, in joyous tones.
“I should think so,” muttered Charley, with a slight swelling of the throat. Then he said—“These fellows have insulted you; have they not, Lotte?”
“Fellows!” echoed Vane fiercely.
“Puppies is the truer and the better word!” exclaimed Charley’s companion. “We will say puppies!”
“You walk on, Lotte, dear, with your friend,” said Charley to his sister; “we will join you presently; you need no more be afraid. We will deal with these vagabonds.”
Lord Spoonly—for he was a lord—placed himself directly in front of Charley.
“You dirty clerk,” he cried, “how dare you apply such epithets to gentlemen. You see that we are three to two, and therefore could take advantage of your want of strength, by half-murdering the pair of you. But I will prevent that, by taking upon myself to chastise you, Charley, and by ducking your friend. Vane and Grahame hold that fellow, while I give this one a lacing.”
As he spoke, he suddenly seized Charley by the collar, and raised his light Malacca cane to inflict severe punishment upon him. But, as it descended, it was caught by Charley’s companion, and twisted out of Lord Spoonly’s hand; at the same time he caught his lordship by the neck, jerked him from his grip of Charley, and lashed him with his own cane until he absolutely roared from pain.