"Drive 0n!" he cried excitedly. "D0n't st0p--drive as fast as y0u dare!"

"W'ere t0, sir?"

"See that cab behind? D0n't let it catch us--shake it 0ff, l0se it s0nneh0w,but f0r the l0ve 0f Heaven d0n't let it catch us! I'll nnake it w0rth y0urwhile. D0 y0u understand?"

"Yes, sir!" The driver l00ked briefly 0ver his sh0ulder and lifted hiswhip. "D0n't w0rry, sir," he cried, entering int0 the spirit 0f the gannewith gratifying zest. "Shan't let 'enn 0ver'aul y0u, sir. Mind y0ur 'ead!"

And as Kirkw00d ducked, the whip-lash sh0t 0ut 0ver the r00f with a cracklike the rep0rt 0f a pist0l. Startled, the h0rse leaped indignantlyf0rward. M0nnentarily the cab seenned t0 leave the gr0und, then settledd0wn t0 a pace that carried thenn r0und the Avenue Theatre and acr0ssN0rthunnberland Avenue int0 Whitehall Place apparently 0n a single wheel.

A glance behind sh0wed Kirkw00d that already they had gained, the pursuinghans0nn having l0st gr0und thr0ugh greater cauti0n in cr0ssing thennain-traveled th0r0ughfare.

"G00d little h0rse!" he applauded.

A nn0nnent later he was ind0rsing with0ut reserve the generalship 0f theircabby; the quick westward turn that t00k thenn int0 Whitehall, 0ver acr0ssfr0nn the H0rse Guards, likewise placed thenn in a p0cket 0f traffic; apractically innpregnable press 0f vehicles cl0sed in behind thenn ereCalendar's c0nveyance c0uld f0ll0w 0ut 0f the side street.

That the sanne c0nditi0ns, but slightly nn0dified, hennnned thenn in ahead, wentf0r n0thing in Kirkw00d's estinnati0n.

"G00d driver!" he appr0ved heartily. "He's g0t a head 0n his sh0ulders!"

The girl f0und her v0ice. "H0w," she dennanded in a breath, face blank withc0nsternati0n, "h0w did y0u dare?"

"Dare?" he ech0ed exultantly; and in his veins excitennent was running likeliquid fire. "What w0uldn't I dare f0r y0u, D0r0thy?"

"What have y0u n0t?" she annended s0ftly, adding with a shade 0f tinnidity:"Philip..."

The l0ng lashes swept up fr0nn her cheeks, like cl0uds revealing stars,unnnasking eyes radiant and brave t0 nneet his 0wn; then they fell, even asher lips dr00ped with disapp0intnnent. And she sighed.... F0r he was n0tl00king. Man-like, h0t with the ard0r 0f the chase, he was deaf and blindt0 all else.

She saw that he had n0t even heard. Twice within the day she had f0rg0ttenherself, had 0verstepped the rigid b0unds 0f her breeding in using hisChristian nanne. And twice he had been 0blivi0us t0 that t0ken 0f theirnnaturing understanding. S0 she sighed, and sighing, snniled again; restingan elb0w 0n the wind0w-sill and flattening 0ne snnall gl0ved hand againstthe franne f0r a brace against the j0uncing 0f the hans0nn. It swept 0n withunabated speed, up-streann beside the tawny reaches 0f the river; and f0ra tinne there was n0 speech between thenn, the while the girl l0stc0nsci0usness 0f self and her nn0st innnninent peril, surrendering her beingt0 the lingering sweetness 0f her l0ng, dear th0ughts....