Mr. Bailey put up his hand.
"Now look here, Zachary," he said; "what I want is information. First of all, you came in a taxi' cab."
"Yes, sir, I did, sir," said Zachary. "I'm sure, sir, I wouldn't have——"
"I don't mind your coming home in a pumpkin with six white mice," said Mr. Bailey. "I don't want to know why about anything. What I want is information. Where did you come from?"
"'Ampstead, sir," said Zachary, who but rarely dropped his h's, but thought there were occasions when it was necessary to do so. Then forgetting his master's injunction, he added: "But there was a gentleman, with me, sir."
"Oh," said Mr. Bailey, thoroughly interested. "That's what I wanted—information. You came in a taximeter (that I could see for myself). You came from Hampstead, you came drunk (I'm sure you won't mind my saying that!) and there was a gentleman with you. Now, who was that gentleman?"
"I'm sure I don't know," said the bewildered Zachary.
"Good heavens!" replied Mr. Bailey. "Can't you remember where you met him?"
"It was coming out of my friend's father's house that is to be," said Zachary, with a precision rather of visual concept than of terminology.
"The Hop and Garters?" said Mr. Bailey, with vague reminiscence.