"Your note! this thing!" said Waife, striking a crumpled paper with his
hand, and running his eye over its contents. "You have rendered up, you
say, the child to her lawful protector? Gracious heavens! did I trust
her to you, or not?"

"Leave the room all of you," said the Mayor, with a sudden return of his
usual calm vigour.

"You go,--you, sirs; what the deuce do you do here?" growled Williams to
the meaner throng. "Out! I stay, never fear, men, I'll take care of
him!"

The bystanders surlily slunk off: but none returned to their work; they
stood within reach of call by the shut door. Williams tucked up his
coat-sleeves, clenched his fists, hung his head doggedly on one side, and
looked altogether so pugnacious and minatory that Sir Isaac, who, though
in a state of great excitement, had hitherto retained self-control,
peered at him under his curls, stiffened his back, showed his teeth, and
growled formidably.

"My good Williams, leave us," said the Mayor; "I would be alone with this
person."

"Alone,--you! out of the question. Now you have been once taken in, and
you own it,--it is my duty to protect you henceforth; and I will to the
end of my days."

The Mayor sighed heavily. "Well, Williams, well!--take a chair, and be
quiet. Now, Mr. Chapman, so to call you still; you have deceived me."