Then followed an exclamation in another woman's voice, and a quick sentence in French.
Peter hesitated a minute, and then turned down the road to where a small group was faintly visible.

As he reached it, he saw that a couple of street girls were bending over a man who lay sprawling on the ground, and he quickened his steps to a run.

His boots were rubber-soled, and all but noiseless.

"Here, I say," he said as he came up.

"Let that man alone.
What are you doing ?" he added in halting French.