"Come, my beauty!" said the man, pulling her forward, "we've no time to lose."
"Scoundrel!" cried the voice of Franklin, as he grasped him by the throat, "who are you?"
"You see who we are;" was the stern reply; "we're policemen, in the execution of our duty. Take your band off my throat."
Franklin recognized their uniform, and relaxed his hold.
"Policemen! and what have policemen to do with this lady? You have made some stupid blunder. This is a lady. She is under my protection. Take your hand off her arm!"
"If she's under your protection, the best thing you can do is to accompany us," replied the man, bluntly; and he made another attempt to drag her away.
Franklin restrained himself with an effort which did him honor, conscious that violence would be here out of place, and perceiving that it would be utterly useless. He strove a moment to collect his thoughts as one stunned by a thunderbolt.
""What is the meaning of this?" he demanded.
"If you ask for information," remarked the man. impressed by his agonized astonishment, "I will tell you; but wont the young woman get into a hack, out of the crowd?"
An empty carriage happened to be passing, into which, like a man in a dream, Franklin handed the ladies. One police officer entered with them—the other took his seat on the box with the coachman. Caroline, although still colorless, had partly regained her courage, and endeavored to smile. Mrs. Clifford, in a most distressing state of agitation, only found breath to say, "Well, this is a pretty adventure, upon my word!"