"I doubt it."
"Oh, of course, if you offer to buy the car!"
"You haven't the courage of your convictions," I said severely. "Good-bye, Queen Elizabeth."
It was well for me she declined the wager. I walked to the corner and hailed the taxi; but the driver shook his head.
"Engaged, sir," he said.
"Your flag's up," I pointed out.
"My mistake, sir."
Nonchalantly pulling down the flag, he retired behind a copy of the Evening News. I was sorry, because his voice was that of an educated man, and I am always interested in people who have seen better days; they remind me of my brother before he was made a judge. I had only caught a glimpse of dark eyes, a sallow complexion and bushy black beard and moustache. England is so preponderatingly clean-shaven that a beard always arouses my suspicions. If the wearer be not a priest of the Orthodox Church, I like to think of him as a Russian nihilist.
After dinner the following night I mentioned to the Seraph that I had run across Sylvia, and hinted that his propinquity to her in the Park each day was not altogether welcome.