Lucy Harding by Mary Jane Holmes

That day we kept together until late in the afternoon, when Mary and I went for a short walk on the Court Quay. I had seen a few beggars, and had nearly always given them something, until I believe I was pretty well known to them as one who could easily be imposed upon, and now as I saw one coming toward me I began to harden my heart, and involuntarily put my hand upon the bag Carl had wrenched from me.

But something in the man's face and attitude struck me as different from the ordinary beggar; and into the outstretched palm I put a few kopecks, and was asking where he lived and his name, when a hand was laid roughly on his shoulder and a harsh voice said: "I can tell you, madame; it is -- "