The remark was so emphatic that Richard looked the speaker in the face.

"Don't you remember me, sir--axdent, sir--op'site your club, sir--me as
knocked the lady down, sir?"

"Oh yes," said Richard, "I remember you now. Not hurt, was she?"

"On'y shook, sir. But jump in, sir. Let me drive yer, sir. Here, I'll
take the portmanter."

"No, no," said Richard, "I don't want to ride, I--there, confound it,
man, what are you about?"

"No, 'fence, sir--I on'y wanted to drive a gent as was so kind as you
was. Odd, aint it, sir? That there lady lives along o' me, at my
house, now--lodges, you know--'partments to let, furnished."

"Apartments!" cried Richard, eagerly; "do you know of any apartments?"

"Plenty out Jermyn Street way, sir."

"No, no; I mean cheap lodgings."

"What, for a gent like you, sir?" said Sam Jenkles.

"No, no--I'm no gentleman," said Richard, bitterly; "only a poor man. I
want cheap rooms."

"Really, sir?" said Sam, rubbing his nose viciously.

"Yes, really, my man. Can you tell me of any?"

"You jump in, sir, and I'll run you up home in no time."

"But I--"

"My missus knows everybody 'bout us as has rooms to let--quiet lodgings,
you know, sir; six bob a week style--cheap."

"No, no; give me your address, and I'll walk."

"No you don't, sir, along o' that portmanter. Now, I do wonder at a
gent like you being so obstinit."

Richard still hesitated; but it was an opportunity not to be lost, and,
before he had time to thoroughly make up his mind, Sam had hoisted the
portmanteau on the roof, afterwards holding open the flap of the cab.

"It's all right, sir; jump in, sir. Ratty wants a run, and you can't
carry that there portmanter."

"A bad beginning," muttered Richard.

Then he stepped into the cab, and the apron was banged to, Sam hopped on
to his perch, and away they rattled along the Strand into Fleet Street,
and up Chancery Lane.

"He's a-going it to-day, sir, aint he?" said a voice; and Richard turned
sharply round, to see Sam Jenkles's happy-looking face grinning through
the trap. "He's as fresh as a daisy."

The little trapdoor was rattled down again, for other vehicles were
coming, and Sam's hands were needed at the reins, the more especially
that Ratty began to display the strangeness of his disposition by laying
down his ears, whisking his tail, and trying hard to turn the cab round
and round, clay-mill fashion. But this was got over, the rest of the
journey