"You have much to be grateful for," he said to Mrs. Podmore.
"Ah, sir, we have indeed!" she answered. "God bless you, and send you success and happiness!"
Felix and Old Wheels shook hands with Jim Podmore, and were soon at the livery-stables. There was only one man there, and they had some difficulty in arousing him. He referred to the books, and said that no lady had engaged anything from the yard that night.
"Two saddle-horses have been taken out since seven o'clock," said the man, with his eye on the page on which the record was made; "a brougham and pair for a customer" (mentioning his name, which satisfied Felix that it could not be for Lizzie), "and a cab."
"Who hired the cab?"
"Can't say. One of our men, Thompson by name, has gone with it. Hired by a gentleman; ten pounds left as deposit."
"How long was it hired for?"
"Can't say, sir; all night, most likely. Thompson is generally selected for the long jobs. You know Thompson, sir?"
"No, I do not."
"He is a tallish man, with his nose on one side, and a hare-lip: wears an old white overcoat. Now I think of it, I saw him and the cab waiting at the door of the True Blue public-house."