"I wasn't asking for none," said the cabby. "Hop in and name where it
is to be."

Godfrey told him and presently was being rattled back to the Charing
Cross Hotel, which they reached a little later. He got out of the cab
to go into the hotel when once again the man addressed him.

"I owe you something," he said, and tendered the half-sovereign.

"I have no change," said Godfrey.

"Nor 'ain't I," said the cabman, "and if I had I wouldn't give it you.
I played a dirty trick on you and a dirtier one still when I took your
half sov, I did, seeing that I ought to have known that you ere just
an obfusticated youngster and no bilk as I called you to them
flunkeys. What you said made me ashamed, though I wouldn't own it
before the flunkeys. So I determined to pay you back if I could, since
otherwise I shouldn't have slept well to-night. Now we're quits, and
goodbye, and do you always think kindly of Thomas Sims, though I don't
suppose I shall drive you no more in this world."

"Goodbye, Mr. Sims," said Godfrey, who was touched. Moreover Mr. Sims
seemed to be familiar to him, at the moment he could not remember how,
or why.

The man wheeled his cab round, whipping the horse which was a spirited
animal, and started at a fast pace.

Godfrey, looking after him, heard a crash as he emerged from the