London? He felt in one
pocket; then in another. The most crushing seizure of despair descended
on his soul; and, struck into abject dumbness, he stared upon the
driver. He had not one penny.

"Hillo," said the driver, "don't seem well."

"Lost my money," said M'Guire, in tones so faint and strange that they
surprised his hearing.

The man looked through the trap. "I dessay," said he: "you've left your
bag."

M'Guire half unconsciously fetched it out; and looking on that black
continent at arm's length, withered inwardly and felt his features
sharpen as with mortal sickness.

"This is not mine," said he. "Your last fare must have left it. You had
better take it to the station."

"Now look here," returned the cabman: "are you off your chump? or am I?"

"Well, then, I'll tell you what," exclaimed M'Guire: "you take it for
your fare!"

"Oh, I dessay," replied the driver. "Anything else? What's _in_ your
bag? Open it, and let me see."

"No, no," returned M'Guire. "O no, not that. It's a surprise; it's
prepared expressly: a surprise for honest cabmen."

"No, you don't," said the man, alighting from his perch, and coming very
close to the unhappy patriot. "You're either going to pay my fare, or
get in again and drive to the office."

It was at this supreme hour of his distress, that M'Guire spied the
stout figure of one Godall, a tobacconist of Rupert Street, drawing near
along the Embankment. The man was not unknown to him; he had bought of
his wares, and heard him quoted for the soul of liberality; and such was
now the nearness of his peril, that even at such a straw of hope he
clutched with gratitude.

"Thank God!" he cried. "Here comes a friend of mine. I'll borrow." And
he dashed to meet the tradesman. "Sir," said he, "Mr. Godall, I have
dealt with you--you doubtless know my face--calamities for which I
cannot blame myself have overwhelmed me. Oh, sir, for the love of
innocence, for the sake of the bonds of humanity, and as you hope for
mercy at the throne of grace, lend me two-and-six!"

"I do not recognise your face," replied Mr. Godall; "but I remember the
cut of your beard, which I have the misfortune to dislike. Here, sir, is
a sovereign; which I very willingly advance to you, on the single
condition that you shave your chin."

M'Guire grasped the coin without a word; cast it to the cabman, calling
out to him to keep the change; bounded down the steps, flung the bag far
forth into the river, and f