"Beg pardon, sir," he began, "but did I carry a box for you this morning to the South Eastern, sir?"
Mr. Kingsley looked him well over before he answered, with a twinkle of amusement in his little bright eyes—
"What if you did, man? Wasn't the sixpence heavy enough?"
Gull knew now that he had found the man he wanted. He drew his hand from his pocket and held a bright half-sovereign towards Mr. Kingsley.
"That's what you give me, in mistake, sir," he said huskily, adding, "I'm glad I remembered who 'twas as give it to me."
Again Mr. Kingsley looked the porter well over. Then he turned his eyes to the further end of the railway carriage, and was relieved to see that his fellow-passenger was, to all appearance, deeply interested in his evening paper. I say, to all appearance, for the truth is that he was listening to all that passed; and it is from him that I heard this story, which is no fiction.
Still, though satisfied that he was unnoticed, Mr. Kingsley did not take the proffered coin. After a moment's pause he said—
"How did you find out that I was coming back this way to-night?"
"I seemed to know as you was a 'season,' sir," Gull answered, "and I watched for you."
"Well, well, man! and now, as to that half-sovereign. I expect it will be of more use to you than to me—eh? Keep it, man; keep it."