The Napoleon of Notting Hill
Gardens.[1] Two hundred yellow West Kensingtons under Provost Swindon attack from Pembridge Road. Two hundred more of my men from the eastern streets, leading away from Queen's Road. Two detachments of yellows enter by two roads from Westbourne Grove. Lastly, two hundred green Bayswaters come down from the North through Chepstow Place, and two hundred more under Provost Wilson himself, through the upper part of Pembridge Road. Gentlemen, it is mate in two moves. The enemy must either mass in Pump Street and be cut to pieces—or they must retreat past the Gaslight & Coke Co.—and rush on my four hundred—or they must retreat past St. Luke's Church and rush on the six hundred from the West. Unless we are all mad, it's plain. Come on. To your quarters and await Captain Bruce's signal to advance. Then you have only to walk up a line of gas-lamps and smash this nonsense by pure mathematics. Tomorrow we shall be all civilians again."
His optimism glowed like a great fire in the night, and ran round the terrible ring in which Wayne was now held helpless. The fight was
- ↑ Clanricarde Gardens at this time was no longer a cul-de-sac, but was connected by Pump Street to Pembridge Square. See map.
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