"Sorry, sir, but we shall have to walk the rest of the way. There are alleys to explore, and a cab attracts attention."
"It's all one to me," I muttered; and it was.
He turned east and I followed him. At the first crossing, a man glided into our wake; at the second, another. Soon there were three men sauntering behind us at a convenient distance apart. Each held a policeman's club under his coat; and walked as if the rain had no power to wet him. Suddenly I felt myself wheeled into an alley-way.
It was pouring now, and even the street lamps shone through a veil of mist, which made them all look like stars. The alley was dark, for there were no lamps there; only at the remote end a distant glimmer shone. It came from the murky panes of some shop or saloon.
Towards this light we moved.
XXVII
RAIN
