very quietly, and very passively, he watched his opportunity, wrenched himself from the gripe of the gentleman on his left, and brought the hand thus released, against the cheek of the gentleman on his right, with so hearty a good will, as to cause him to relinquish his hold, and retreat several paces towards the areas in a slanting position. But that round-about sort of blow with the left fist is very unfavourable towards the preservation of a firm balance; and before Paul had recovered sufficiently to make an effectual "bolt," he was prostrated to the earth by a blow from the other and undamaged watchman, which utterly deprived him of his senses; and when he recovered those useful possessions (which a man may reasonably boast of losing, since it is only the minority who have them to lose), he found himself stretched on a bench in the watchhouse.
