Part 15 (1/2)

*Can you blame her?'

There were people shouting in the distance.

*Yes. I find it easy to blame people but I blame the police even more.' The shouting was getting louder. *Also, I have checked with Philby's Cutlers on Midden Street and they only ever made two of those knives a a special order for William Ashby.'

*So he was telling the truth about that.'

Sidney Grice tossed his head. *The best lies are always flavoured with the truth but if the substance is rotten, it will stink no matter how much you try to disguise it.'

The hansom stopped and Sidney Grice tapped the roof with his cane and called up to the driver, *What is the delay?'

The driver slid open his hatch and glared down at us. *Road blocked.'

*Then turn round, man.'

*Can't back up with that lot behind me,' the driver said, *and there's no room to turn.'

*Has there been an accident?'

*Trouble,' the driver said and slammed his hatch shut.

*What sort of trouble?' I asked and Sidney Grice looked out.

*A crowd,' he said. *They have upturned a cart of barrels and set fire to it at the junction.'

The hatch slid open.

*My 'orse don't like it,' the driver said. We could feel it s.h.i.+fting restlessly and hear its hooves strike the cobbles.

I leaned out of my side.

*Keep your head in,' Sidney Grice said.

*I have as much right to look as you.'

There was a bonfire at the crossroads ahead and only one hansom between it and us. The fire must have been ten feet high, but it was growing by the minute. Men in rags were running out from an alleyway, throwing planks of wood on top, their faces lit crimson then white, then dissolving into the shadows as they ran back again.

*They must have looted a builder's yard,' my guardian said.

I could hear hammering and a squealing wrench and three men appeared carrying a door, which they swung and tossed into the blaze.

*They will have the street on fire at this rate,' Sidney Grice said. *Where are the police? Cosy behind their desks, no doubt.'

I heard the smas.h.i.+ng of gla.s.s.

The driver shouted, *You, behind, back your nag up and let us through.'

*Can't. It's blocked back to Onion Street,' the other driver shouted, *and there's more coming up behind that.'

*Lord help us now.' Sidney Grice half stood to lean out further. *They have broken into a vintner's. It is difficult to reason with any mob, but one with wine in its belly is a very unpredictable beast indeed.'

There was a loud crack as something burst in the middle of the fire and sparks sprayed high into the night, a shower of intense red stars crackling into the sky, glowing as they fell, floating over the rooftops. Then two men appeared, dragging a third between them. His face was down, but in the flaring lights I saw his head clearly. He had a great shock of red hair. The two men lifted him. His body was limp. They raised him higher and flung him on to the pyre. I bit my glove.

*It is a mannequin,' Sidney Grice said. *They still think there is an Italian murderer on the loose.'

An elderly couple in evening-wear got out of the carriage in front and hurried away past my window.

*I suggest you do the same,' my guardian said. *You will be quite safe if you go on to Onion Street and you should be able to hail a cab there.'

*What about you?'

*A gentleman never flees the rabble,' he told me. *They are a pack of dogs and must be subdued or they will rampage through the city and anarchy shall prevail.'

*But-'

My guardian silenced me with a finger to his lips. *And once you have anarchy the whole of society will be teetering on the brink,' he said, *of democracy.'

*But what can you do?'

*Confront them.' Sidney Grice flung the flap open. He stood and waited to help me alight. *Walk briskly but do not run,' he said. *Keep your head up and speak to no one. I shall see you at home.'

*There's a couple of gentry,' a woman's voice called out from the crowd, and half a dozen of them broke away and ran towards us.

*You have money?'

*Yes but-'

*Quickly then, and tell Molly to put the kettle on.' Sidney Grice turned to face them. *Stand back,' he shouted, his voice high and thin against the roar, *or you shall get a taste of my cane.'

The front runner stopped two feet in front of him. He was a big man with strong bared arms and a face covered in circular tattoos, and he grinned at the little man in front of him.

*Try your twig against this, squire,' he said, raising an iron bar like a cudgel.

Sidney Grice darted forwards. He did not try to strike the man with his stick but lunged like a fencer, the tip of his cane catching the man under his chin. The man dropped his bar and clutched his throat.

*You shall all disperse immediately,' Sidney Grice shouted.

*I know you.' A wiry man in a long rabbit-skin coat grinned at him toothily. *You're that detective geezer what started all this, getting an innocent man arrested and leaving our women at the mercy of a dago.'

*I shall not warn you again.' Sidney Grice waved his cane and the man laughed and said, *What, a pipsqueak like you?' Sidney Grice sprang forwards, but the wiry man was ready for him and batted the cane to one side. His fist lashed out and caught my guardian on the temple, and Sidney Grice reeled backwards, his hand to his head. A tall man came from behind and clutched him in a bear hug, and another stepped forwards with a broken bottle.

*Let's see how clever you are now,' he said, waving the jagged edge in his face.