" he continued, "but this time I was minding my P's and
Q's. 'You know Dr. Senior, of Brook Street?' he says. 'The old doctor?'
I says; 'he's retired out of town.' 'No,' he says, 'nor the young doctor
neither; but there's another of 'em isn't there?' 'Dr. Dobry?' I says.
'Yes,' he says, 'he often takes your cab, my friend?' 'First one and
then the other,' I says, 'sometimes Dr. John and sometimes Dr. Dobry.
They're as thick as brothers, and thicker.' 'Good friends of yours?' he
says. 'Well,' says I, 'they take my cab when they can have it; but
there's not much friendship, as I see, in that. It's the best cab and
horse on the stand, though I say it, as shouldn't. Dr. John's pretty
fair, but the other's no great favorite of mine.' 'Ah!' he says."

Simmons's face was illuminated with delight, and he winked sportively at
us.

"It were all flummery, doctors," he said; "I don't deny as Dr. John is a
older friend, and a older favorite; but that is neither here nor there.
I jest see them setting a trap, and I wanted to have a finger in it.
'Ah!' he says, 'all we want to know, but we do want to know that very
particular, is where you drive Dr. Dobry to the oftenest. He's going to
borrow money from us, and we'd like to find out something about his
habits; specially where he spends his spare time, and all that sort of
thing, you understand. You know where he goes in your cab.' 'Of course I
do,' I says; 'I drove him and Dr. John here nigh a twelvemonth ago. The
other gent took my number down, and knew where to look for me when you
wanted me.' 'You're a clever fellow,' he says. 'So my old woman thinks,'
I says. 'And you'd be glad to earn a little more for your old woman?' he
says. 'Try me,' I says. 'Well then,' says he, 'here's a offer for you.
If you'll bring us word where he spends his spare time, we'll give you
ten shillings; and if it turns out of any use to us, well make it five
pounds.' 'Very good,' I says. 'You've not got any information to tell us
at once?' he says. 'Well, no,' I says, 'but I'll keep my eye upon him
now.' 'Stop,' he says, as I were going away; 'they keep a carriage, of
course?' 'Of course,' I says; 'what's the good of a doctor that hasn't a
carriage and pair?' 'Do they use it at night?' says he. 'Not often,'
says I; 'they take a cab; mine if it's on the stand.' 'Very good,' he
says; 'good-morning, my friend.' So I come away, and drives back again
to the stand."

"And you left the lady there?" I asked, with