"The Doctor! The Doctor! Where's the Doctor? The Hermit would
have hanged if it hadn't been for the Doctor. Speech!
Speech!--The Doctor!"

And a man came running up to us and said,

"The people are calling for you, Sir."

"I'm very sorry," said the Doctor, "but I'm in a hurry."

"The crowd won't be denied, Sir," said the man. "They want you
to make a speech in the marketplace."

"Beg them to excuse me," said the Doctor--"with my compliments. I
have an appointment at my house--a very important one which I may
not break. Tell Luke to make a speech. Come along, Stubbins,
this way."

"Oh Lord!" he muttered as we got out into the open air and found
another crowd waiting for him at the side door. "Let's go up that
alleyway--to the left. Quick!--Run!"

We took to our heels, darted through a couple of side streets and
just managed to get away from the crowd.

It was not till we had gained the Oxenthorpe Road that we dared
to slow down to a walk and take our breath. And even when we
reached the Doctor's gate and turned to look backwards towards
the town, the faint murmur of many voices still reached us on the
evening wind.