and if he sees the weak ill-used by the strong, the most he can do
is to sneak away and tell the nearest policeman, who most likely
won't turn up until the worst of the mischief is done. Coming to
this lady's drawing-room, and making an illustration of himself,
won't make him feel like a man after that. Let me be understood,
though, gentlemen: I don't intend that you should take everything I
say too exactly--too literally, as it were. If you see a man beating
a woman, I think you should interfere on principle. But don't expect
to be thanked by her for it; and keep your eye on her; don't let her
get behind you. As for him, just give him a good one and go away.
Never stay to get yourself into a street fight; for it's low, and
generally turns out badly for all parties. However, that's only a
bit of practical advice. It doesn't alter the great principle that
you should get an executive power. When you get that, you'll have
courage in you; and, what's more, your courage will be of some use
to you. For though you may have courage by nature, still, if you
haven't executive power as well, your courage will only lead you to
stand up to be beaten by men that have both courage and executive
power; and what good does that do you? People say that you're a game
fellow; but they won't find the stakes for you unless you can win
them. You'd far better put your game in your pocket, and throw up
the sponge while you can see to do it.

"Now, on this subject of game, I've something to say that will ease
the professor's mind on a point that he seemed anxious about. I am
no musician; but I'll just show you how a man that understands one
art understands every art. I made out from the gentleman's remarks
that there is a man in the musical line named Wagner, who is what
you might call a game sort of composer; and that the musical fancy,
though they can't deny that his tunes are first-rate, and that, so