The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

moment, and its neigh was like a scream; it was all hoofs and teeth and eyes and tossing
mane. Only a splendid rider could have stayed on its back.
Before Digory had recovered his breath a good many other things began to happen. A
second hansom dashed up close behind the first: out of it there jumped a fat man in a
frock-coat and a policeman. Then came a third hansom with two more policemen in it.
After it, came about twenty people (mostly errand boys) on bicycles, all ringing their
bells and letting out cheers and cat-calls. Last of all came a crowd of people on foot: all
very hot with running, but obviously enjoying themselves. Windows shot up in all the
houses of that street and a housemaid or a butler appeared at every front door. They
wanted to see the fun.
Meanwhile an old gentleman had begun to struggle shakily out of the ruins of the first
hansom. Several people rushed forward to help him; but as one pulled him one way and
another another, perhaps he would have got out quite as quickly on his own. Digory
guessed that the old gentleman must be Uncle Andrew but you couldn't see his face; his
tall hat had been bashed down over it.
Digory rushed out and joined the crowd.
"That's the woman, that's the woman," cried the fat man, pointing at Jadis. "Do your duty,
Constable. Hundreds and thousands of pounds' worth she's taken out of my shop. Look at
that rope of pearls round her neck. That's mine. And she's given me a black eye too,
what's more."
"That she 'as, guv'nor," said one of the crowd. "And as lovely a black eye as I'd wish to
see. Beautiful bit of work that must 'ave been. Gor! ain't she strong then!"
"You ought to put a nice raw beefsteak on it, Mister, that's what it wants," said a butcher's
boy.
"Now then," said the most important of the policemen, "what's all this 'ere?"
"I tell you she -" began the fat man, when someone else called out:
"Don't let the old cove in the cab get away. 'E put 'er up to it."
The old gentleman, who was certainly Uncle Andrew, had just succeeded in standing up
and was rubbing his bruises. "Now then," said the policeman, turning to him, "What's all
this?"
"Womfle - pomfy - shomf," came Uncle Andrew's voice from inside the hat.
"None of that now," said the policeman sternly. "You'll find this is no laughing matter.
Take that 'at off, see?"