ment.

He caught the driver's eye and raised his stick, and turning suddenly to
the Baron with a gesture of annoyance, exclaimed, "Forgive my rudeness,
Baron, I'm afraid I must leave you. I had clean forgotten an important
engagement in the city for this afternoon."

"Appointment in ze city?" said the Baron in considerable surprise. "I did
not know you had friends in ze city."

"I have just heard from my father's man of business, and I'm afraid it
would be impolitic not to see him. Do you mind if I leave you here?"

"Surely, my dear fellow, I vould not stop you. Already I feel at home by
myself."

"Then we shall meet at the hotel before dinner. Good luck with the ladies,
Baron."

Mr Bunker jumped into the cab, saying only to the driver, "To the city, as
quick as you can."

"What part, sir?"

"Oh, say the Bank. Hurry up!"

Then as the man whipped up, Mr Bunker had a glimpse of Moggridge hailing
another cab, and peeping cautiously through the little window at the back
he saw him starting in hot pursuit. He took five shillings out of his
pocket and opened the trap-door in the roof.

"Do you see that other cab chasing us, with a red-faced man inside?"

"Yes, sir."

Mr Bunker handed his driver the money.

"Get rid of him, then. Take me anywhere through the city you like, and
when he's off the scent let me know."

"Very good, sir," replied the driver, cracking his whip till his steed
began to move past the buses and the other cabs like a train.

On they flew, clatter and jingle, twisting like a snipe through the
traffic. Mr Bunker perceived that he had a good horse and a good driver,
and he smiled in pleasant excitement. He lit a cigar, leaned his arms on
the doors, and settled himself to enjoy the race.

The black lions of Trafalgar Square flew by, then the colossal hotels of
Northumberland Avenue and the railway bridge at Charing Cross, and they
were going at a gallop along the Embankment. He got swift glimpses of
other cabs and foot-passengers, the trees seemed to flit past like
telegraph-posts on a railway, the barges and lighters on the river dropped
one by one behind them: it was a fair course for a race, with never a
check before Blackfriar's Bridge.

As they turned into Queen Victoria Street he opened the lid and asked,
"Are they still in sight?"

"Yes, sir; I'm afraid we ain't gaining much yet. But I'll do it, sir, no
fears."

Mr Bunker lay back and laughed.

"This is better than the Park,"