"Tell me this," said Barraclough. "How many of you are there in this?"
"My dear chap, I don't know—hundreds I expect."
"Hm!" said Barraclough. "Well, I'm going home to bed."
"Sensible fellow and I'll see you get there safely."
They alighted at Golders Green Station where the driver was equally amazed by his open cab and the extra passenger.
"No, no, this is on me," said the loafer and handed out a couple of notes.
In the station he nodded to several men in a friendly fashion and repeated the performance to some others as they sat side by side in the tube carriage. He rather flattered himself on the inspiration that suggested this performance, for, as a fact, everyone of them was a stranger.
"Thought it safer to come home this way," he said to establish the point more firmly. "I felt a bit lonely with you in that cab."
They parted at the doors of Crest Chambers, W., where Barraclough had a flat.
"By the way, any message for Mr. Van Diest?"