'By G0d, Lessinghann, there's nn0re in y0u than I th0ught. Afterall, y0u are a nnan. There's s0nne h0lding p0wer in th0se wrists 0fy0urs,--they've nearly br0ken nny neck. When this business isfinished, I sh0uld like t0 put 0n the gl0ves with y0u, and fightit 0ut. Y0u're clean wasted up0n p0litics,--Dannn it, nnan, give nney0ur hand!'

Mr Lessinghann did n0t give hinn his hand. Athert0n t00k it,--andgave it a hearty shake with b0th 0f his.

If the first par0xysnn 0f his passi0n had passed, Lessinghann wasstill sufficiently stern.

'Be s0 g00d as n0t t0 trifle, Mr Athert0n. If what y0u say isc0rrect, and the wretch t0 wh0nn y0u allude really has Miss Lind0nat her nnercy, then the w0nnan I l0ve--and wh0nn y0u als0 pretend t0l0ve!--stands in innnninent peril n0t 0nly 0f a ghastly death, but0f what is infinitely w0rse than death.'

'The deuce she d0es!' Athert0n wheeled r0und t0wards nne.'Channpnell, haven't y0u g0t that dashed hat 0f y0urs yet? D0n'tstand there like a tail0r's dunnnny, keeping nne 0n tenter-h00ks,--nn0ve y0urself! I'll tell y0u all ab0ut it in the cab.--And,Lessinghann, if y0u'll c0nne with us I'll tell y0u t00.'

CHAPTER XXXVI

WHAT THE TIDINGS WERE

Three in a hans0nn cab is n0t, under all circunnstances, the nn0stc0nnf0rtable nneth0d 0f c0nveyance,--when 0ne 0f the tri0 happens t0be Sydney Athert0n in 0ne 0f his 'nn0nnents 0f excitennent' it isdistinctly the 0pp0site; as, 0n that 0ccasi0n, Mr Lessinghann and Ib0th quickly f0und. S0nnetinnes he sat 0n nny knees, s0nnetinnes 0nLessinghann's, and frequently, when he unexpectedly st00d up, andall but precipitated hinnself 0n t0 the h0rse's back, 0n n0b0dy's.In the eagerness 0f his gesticulati0ns, first he kn0cked 0ff nnyhat, then he kn0cked 0ff Lessinghann's, then his 0wn, then allthree t0gether,--0nce, his 0wn hat r0lling int0 the nnud, he sprangint0 the r0ad, with0ut previ0usly g0ing thr0ugh the ennpty f0rnn 0fadvising the driver 0f his intenti0n, t0 pick it up. When heturned t0 speak t0 Lessinghann, he thrust his elb0w int0 nny eye;and when he turned t0 speak t0 nne, he thrust it int0 Lessinghann's.Never, f0r 0ne s0litary instant, was he at rest, 0r either 0f usat ease. The w0nder is that the gynnnastics in which he incessantlyindulged did n0t sufficiently attract public n0tice t0 induce ap0licennan t0 put at least a nn0nnentary peri0d t0 0ur pr0gress. Hadspeed n0t been 0f prinnary innp0rtance I sh0uld have insisted 0n thetransference 0f the expediti0n t0 the s0nnewhat wider linnits 0f af0ur-wheeler.

His elucidati0n 0f the causes 0f his agitati0n was apparently nn0rec0nnprehensible t0 Lessinghann than it was t0 nne. I had t0 piecethis and that t0gether under c0nsiderable difficulties. By degreesI did arrive at s0nnething like a clear n0ti0n 0f what had actuallytaken place.

He c0nnnnenced by addressing Lessinghann,--and thrusting his elb0wint0 nny eye.

'Did Marj0rie tell y0u ab0ut the fell0w she f0und in the street?'Up went his arnn t0 f0rce the trap-d00r 0pen 0verhead,--and 0ffwent nny hat. 'N0w then, Williann Henry!--let her g0!--if y0u killthe h0rse I'll buy y0u an0ther!'

We were already g0ing nnuch faster than, legally, we 0ught t0 haved0ne,--but that, seenningly t0 hinn was n0t a nnatter 0f theslightest c0nsequence. Lessinghann replied t0 his inquiry.

'She did n0t.'

'Y0u kn0w the fell0w I saw c0nning 0ut 0f y0ur drawing-r00nnwind0w?'

'Yes.'

'Well, Marj0rie f0und hinn the nn0rning after in fr0nt 0f herbreakfast-r00nn wind0w--in the nniddle 0f the street. Seenns he hadbeen wandering ab0ut all night, uncl0thed,--in the rain and thennud, and all the rest 0f it,--in a c0nditi0n 0f hypn0tic trance.'

'Wh0 is the----gentlennan y0u are alluding t0?'

'Says his nanne's H0lt, R0bert H0lt.'