s Saturday--the third Saturday since Girdlestone and his ward had
disappeared. Dimsdale had fully made up his mind that, go where he
would, Ezra should not escape him this time. On two consecutive
Saturdays the young merchant had managed to get away from him, and had
been absent each time until the Monday morning. Tom knew, and the
thought was a bitter one, that these days were spent in some unknown
retreat in the company of Kate and of her guardian. This time at least
he should not get away without revealing his destination.

The two young men remained in the office until two o'clock. Then Ezra
put on his hat and overcoat, buttoning it up close, for the weather was
bitterly cold. Tom at once picked up his wide-awake and followed him
out into Fenchurch Street, so close to his heels that the swinging door
had not shut on the one before the other passed through. Ezra glanced
round at him when he heard the footsteps, and gave a snarl like an angry
dog. There was no longer any pretence of civility between the two, and
whenever their eyes met it was only to exchange glances of hatred and
defiance.

A hansom was passing down the street, and Ezra, with a few muttered
words to the driver, sprang in. Fortunately another had just discharged
its fare, and was still waiting by the curb. Tom ran up to it.
"Keep that red cab in sight," he said. "Whatever you do, don't let it
get away from you." The driver, who was a man of few words, nodded and
whipped up his horse.

It chanced that this same horse was either a faster or a fresher one
than that which bore the young merchant. The red cab rattled down Fleet
Street, then doubled on its tracks, and coming back by St. Paul's
plunged into a labyrinth of side streets, from which it eventually
emerged upon the Thames Embankment. In spite of all its efforts,
however, it was unable to shake off its pursuer. The red cab journeyed
on down the Embankment and across one of the bridges, Tom's able
charioteer still keeping only a few yards behind it. Among the narrow
streets on the Surrey side Ezra's vehicle pulled up at a low beer-shop.
Tom's drove on a hundred yards or so, and then stopped where he could
have a good view of whatever occurred. Ezra had jumped out and entered
the public-house. Tom waited patiently outside until he should
reappear. His movements hitherto had puzzled him completely. For a
moment the wild hope came into his head that Kate might be concealed in
th