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the intermediate stations of Cosham and Porchester, and come on by the
next train if they had no news. If they did not come on, a wire to the
Fareham post office was to explain why. It was Napoleonic, and more than
consoled Dangle for the open derision of the Havant street boys at the
handkerchief which still protected his damaged eye.
Moreover, the scheme answered to perfection. The fugitives escaped by
a hair's breadth. They were outside the Golden Anchor at Fareham, and
preparing to mount, as Mrs. Milton and Dangle came round the corner
from the station. "It's her!" said Mrs. Milton, and would have screamed.
"
Hist!" said Dangle, gripping the lady's arm, removing his handkerchief
in his excitement, and leaving the piece of meat over his eye, an
extraordinary appearance which seemed unexpectedly to calm her. "Be
cool!" said Dangle, glaring under the meat. "They must not see us. They
will get away else. Were there flys at the station?" The young couple
mounted and vanished round the corner of the Winchester road. Had it not
been for the publicity of the business, Mrs. Milton would have fainted.
"SAVE HER!" she said.
"Ah! A conveyance," said Dangle. "One minute."
He left her in a most pathetic attitude, with her hand pressed to her
heart, and rushed into the Golden Anchor. Dog cart in ten minutes.
Emerged. The meat had gone now, and one saw the cooling puffiness over
his eye. "I will conduct you back to the station," said Dangle; "hurry
back here, and pursue them. You will meet Widgery and Phipps and tell
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