“Someone’s had the start of you.”
The interruption came from Rudd. The absence of the cursing gentleman, and his two friends, explained his meaning.
“They’ve gone hot-foot after him,” I cried. “What’s good enough for them is good enough for me!”
We journeyed in three cabs. Speed was a consideration. So we chartered hansoms. I went in front with Luke. He didn’t seem over and above anxious for my society. But I didn’t feel as if I could be comfortable without him. So we went together. Though I am bound to admit that I’m inclined to think that I enjoyed that ride more than he did. Rudd, Holley, and his chum came next. Mr. Paine and the young lady last. I liked his manner towards that young lady. In a lawyer, whom one naturally looks upon as the most hard-hearted of human creatures, it was beautiful. He could not have treated her more tenderly if she had been a queen. And, though she was still in a very sad condition, I have a sort of idea that, when they were once inside that cab, speed with them wasn’t much of a consideration.
And though those hansoms did rattle us along in style, we found that someone had got to that house in Camford Street in front of us.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
IN THE PRESENCE.
The cursing gentleman and his two friends were awaiting us upon the pavement. I said a word of a kind to the long ’un.
“Look here, my bald-headed friend, I don’t quite know who you are, or what you want, but I’ve seen enough of your little ways to know they’re funny; so if you take my advice you’ll make yourself scarce before there’s trouble.”
He held out his hands. Looking, on the dirty pavement of that shabby street, like a fish out of water.
“The Great Joss! The Great Joss! He is in there—give him back to us—then we go.”