Forth trundled the cab into the Christmas streets, the fare within plunged in the blackness of a despair that neighboured on unconsciousness, the driver on the box digesting his rebuke and his customer's duplicity.

The smell of the cab was still faintly present to his senses, and a certain leaden chill about his feet, all else had disappeared in one vast oppression of calamity and physical faintness.

Winnie followed her mother into the cab. Stevie climbed on the box.

Her eyes gleamed in the shadow of the cab straight ahead, immovable.

But within that minute a crosstown car had stopped directly in front of the cab. The cabman tried to pass to the left, but a heavy express wagon cut him off.

On their way to the theatre there was a street blockade, and it was two hours before their cab could get out of it.

But we must have a cab. We can't stand here until half-past eleven.

The rain was so sudden: nobody was prepared; and everybody had to take a cab. I've been to Charing Cross one way and nearly to Ludgate Circus the other; and they were all engaged.

"Patent leathers and Square-toes came in the same cab, and they walked down the pathway together as friendly as possible -- arm-in-arm, in all probability.

This conversation had occurred while our cab had been threading its way through a long succession of dingy streets and dreary by-ways.

"The cab is waiting, and I have my last words to say to you.

"If you wish to remain under my charge," Julian proceeded, "you will accompany me at once to the cab. In that case I will undertake to give you an opportunity of telling your story to my own lawyer.