XIII.
"Lay hold on him! That's the man!" cried many voices, and Philip, Rose, and Julian saw themselves surrounded by six lusty servants of the police. Rose screamed, Philip took her hand, and told her not to be alarmed. The Prince clapped his hand on Philip's shoulder.
"'T is a stupid business," he said, "and you should have escaped when I told you. But don't be frightened; there shall no harm befall you."
"That's to be seen," said one of the captors.
"In the meantime he must come along with us."
"Where to?" inquired Philip; "I am doing my duty. I am watchman of this beat."
"That's the reason we take you. Come."
The Prince stepped forward. "Let the man go, good people," he said, and searched in all his pockets for his purse. As he found it nowhere, he was going to whisper to Philip to give it him, but the police tore them apart, and one of them shouted: "On! We can't stop to talk here."
"The masked fellow must go with us too; he is suspicious-looking."
"Not so," exclaimed Philip; "you are in search of the watchman. Here I am, if you choose to answer for taking me from my duty. But let this gentleman go."
