commanded the
perplexed driver to turn the carriage.

While that was being done he discoursed upon his adjacent
fellow-creatures. "A man who pays beforehand for anything in this filthy
sort of life is a fool. You see the standards of the beast. They think
of nothing but their dirty little tricks to get profit, their garlic,
their sour wine, their games of dominoes, their moments of lust. They
crawl in this place like cockroaches in a warm corner of the fireplace
until they die. Look at the scabby frontage of the house. Look at the
men's faces.... Yes. So! Adequato. Aspettate.... Get back into the
carriage, Amanda."

"You know it's dangerous, Cheetah. The horse is a shier. That man is
blind in one eye."

"Get back into the carriage," said Benham, whitely angry. "I AM GOING TO
DRIVE!"

"But--!"

Just for a moment Amanda looked scared. Then with a queer little laugh
she jumped in again.

Amanda was never a coward when there was excitement afoot. "We'll
smash!" she cried, by no means woefully.

"Get up beside me," said Benham speaking in English to the driver but
with a gesture that translated him. Power over men radiated from
Benham in this angry mood. He took the driver's seat. The little driver
ascended and then with a grim calmness that brooked no resistance Benham
reached over, took and fastened the apron over their knees to prevent
any repetition of the jumping out tactics.

The recovering landlord became voluble in the doorway.

"In Piedimulera pagero," said Benham over his shoulder and brought the
whip across the white outstanding ribs. "Get up!" said Benham.

Amanda gripped the sides of the seat as the carriage started into
motion.

He laid the whip on again with such vigour that the horse forgot
altogether to shy at the urchin that had scared it before.

"Amanda," said Benham leaning back. "If we do happen to go over on THAT
side, jump out. It's all clear and wide for you. This side won't matter
so--"

"MIND!" screamed Amanda and recalled him to his duties. He was off the
road and he had narrowly missed an outstanding chestnut true.

"No, you don't," said Benham presently, and again their career became
erratic for a time as after a slight struggle he replaced the apron over
the knees of the deposed driver. It had been furtively released. After
that Benham kept an eye on it that might have been better devoted to the
road.

The road went down in a series of curves and corners. Now and then there