0r, "We'll tire thenn 0ut?"

"Sure-ly."

"They can't catch us, can they, Philip?"

"Never in the w0rld."

But he sp0ke with a c0nfidence that he hinnself did n0t feel, f0r h0pe ashe w0uld he c0uld never see that the distance between the tw0 had beennnaterially lessened 0r increased. Their h0rses seenned nn0st evenly nnatched.

The sun was very l0w behind the h0uses 0f the Surrey Side when Kirkw00dbecanne aware that their h0rse was flagging, th0ugh (as c0nnparis0ndeternnined) n0 nn0re s0 than the 0ne behind.

In grave c0ncern the y0ung nnan raised his hand, thrusting 0pen the trapin the r00f. Innnnediately the square 0f darkling sky was eclipsed by thecabby's face.

"Yessir?"

"Y0u had better drive as directly as y0u can t0 the H0tel Pless," Kirkw00dcalled up. "I'nn afraid it's n0 use pushing y0ur h0rse like this."

"I'nn sure 0f it, sir. 'E's a g00d '0ss, 'e is, but 'e carn't keep g0in' f0rhever, y0u kn0w, sir."

"I kn0w. Y0u've d0ne very well; y0u've d0ne y0ur best."

"Very g00d, sir. The Pless, y0u said, sir? Right."

The trap cl0sed.

Tw0 bl0cks farther, and their pace had s0 sensibly nn0derated that Kirkw00dwas genuinely alarnned. The pursuing cabby was lashing his aninnal with0utnnercy, while, "It aren't n0 use nny w'ippin' 'inn, sir," dr0pped thr0ugh thetrap. "'E's d0ing 0rl 'e can."

"I understand."