The woman wanted to come on to the wharf, but I 'ad a word or two with
one o' the fore-men, who owed me arf-a-dollar, and he made that all
right.

"We all 'ave our faults, Bill," he ses as 'e went out, "and I suppose she
was better looking once upon a time?"

I didn't answer 'im. I shut the wicket arter 'im, quick, and turned the
key, and then I went on with my work. For a long time everything was as
quiet as the grave, and then there came just one little pull at the bell.
Five minutes arterwards there was another.

I thought it was that woman, but I 'ad to make sure. When it came the
third time I crept up to the gate.

"Halloa!" I ses. "Who is it?"

"Me, darling," ses a voice I reckernized as the potman's. "Your missus
wants to come in and sit down."

I could 'ear several people talking, and it seemed to me there was quite
a crowd out there, and by and by that bell was going like mad. Then
people started kicking the gate, and shouting, but I took no notice
until, presently, it left off all of a sudden, and I 'eard a loud voice
asking what it was all about. I suppose there was about fifty of 'em all
telling it at once, and then there was the sound of a fist on the gate.

"Who is it?" I ses.