This was too much for me.
"Look here," I said angrily. "We'll end this farce. I'm going to the police station, and you shall come with me."
So we drove off in our respective cabs, by now the two men had disappeared. At the police station, the woman still kept up her foolish acting; after hearing my case, the inspector cross-questioned her. "What name?" She thoughtlessly gave her own, not knowing mine, and once again referred theatrically to the marriage certificate.
An expression of dawning remembrance passed over the inspector's face, and after opening another book, he turned the pages until pausing, he read quietly for a moment.
"Yes, I have it," he said. "You were imprisoned for violent assault, fined, and were only released yesterday. You had better go about your business."
The woman did not appear disturbed or non-plussed when she knew her identity was exposed, but still dogged my footsteps. After my experience of the evening, I refused to go home without a police escort, and all the way my strange adventuress followed us, still abusive, until at last, on nearing my studio, she disappeared. I found my door open as the little model had left it when she had evidently fled in her fear to her home.
I often wonder what object the woman and her two attendant blackguards had in pursuing me. I am glad to think I escaped with a whole skin from an incomprehensible adventure.
Another episode which resulted in my actually appearing in the courts, this time not as a spectator, but as the plaintiff in a case which I brought against an omnibus company, occurred some time back.
I happened to be returning from Queen Anne's Gate, where I had spent a busy morning's work upon a portrait, and I was due at my studio to meet another sitter. Having very little time to spare, I partook of a hasty cup of coffee and some light refreshment in lieu of lunch, and hastily jumped on to an omnibus going in the direction of Chelsea. After a brief interval a lady sitting in front turned round to me as we were passing Ebury Bridge and said, "Would you kindly ask the conductor for me if he will give me my change. I've spoken to him several times and without effect."
"Certainly," I replied, and called to the conductor.