form of the child.

"You will oblige me by moving that bundle of rags from my chair!"
he said.

"But she is dying!" cried the policeman, trembling all over with
generous indignation; "she may be dead now!"

"Very well, this is no place for a coroner's inquest," was the terse
reply.

The policeman half started up, and in his indignation almost crushed
one of the little hands that he had been chafing.

"Sir, this is inhuman--it is shameful."

"Do you know where you are?--whom you are speaking to?" said the great
man, growing pale about the mouth, but subduing his passion with
wonderful firmness.

"Yes, I know well enough. This is your house, and you are the Mayor
of New York!"

"And you--may I have the honor of knowing who it is that favors my
poor dwelling, and with company like that!" said the Mayor, pointing
to the child, while his upper lip contracted and the corners of his
mouth drooped into a cold sneer.

"Yes, sir, you can know: I am a policeman of this ward, appointed
by your predecessor--a just and good man; my name is John Chester.