"You are wrong; the man in that carriage was not this gentleman. Remember, it turned the corner before we left the depot, so you lost sight of it for half a minute or so."
"That's so," admitted cabby.
"It had probably turned out of the street before we turned into it, and you, seeing this gentleman's carriage, supposed it to be the same, and followed it."
"I guess that explains it."
"Well, it doesn't explain it to me," said the aggrieved stranger. "I consider this affair an outrage, and I am going to have it investigated."
"Go ahead and investigate, then," said Al, losing his patience. "You are making a mountain of a mole hill."
"I am, eh? Well, you'll see whether I am or not. Cabman, I have your number."
"That's all right; keep it," growled the jehu.
"I shall keep it, and make good use of it, too. You will hear from me again."
And the man climbed back into his carriage, flushed almost as much with anger as with wine.