"Ah, I only said 'if'!" replied George, "But you may be sure that if he were here now, he'd say, 'George, my old friend, take Lucy home in a cab. You're my comrade, and I'd trust you anywhere.'"
Miss Perkins said no more, but led the way downstairs, and as George followed, he heard the door of the cupboard creak, and knew that the prisoner was at last free.
An hour later he returned, and inquired for the head clerk again.
"I don't think he's in yet," said the landlady; "I haven't heard him."
"I think you'll find he's in," said George.
Mrs. Carey found the head clerk in, much to her astonishment, and ushered George up, after having hastily explained the lamb-chop incident.
"Hallo, old man!" said George, closing the door carefully, and choosing an armchair. "Hard luck for you being shut up there, wasn't it?"
Parrott rose slowly, and deliberately took off his coat.
"Now," he said, facing his junior, "what have you got to say about it?"
George Early lit a cigarette, threw the match away, and then looked up.