"Though," she continued, "I don't rightly understand why——"
"I think this must belong to you, sir," said the girl with the portfolio, suddenly, holding out a sovereign to the old gentleman.
"Not at all, my dear; nothing to do with me, nothing whatever," he said, nodding his head at her. "Old enough to be your grandfather, too!"
"Now then, what's all that?" asked the policeman.
"Only this gentleman must have been putting a sovereign into my pocket, and I insist—oh! I insist——"
"Look here, constable," said the old gentleman, "can't you see that you are embarrassing the young lady? Any little transaction between her and me is none of your business, or anyone else's either."
The old gentleman stamped impotently upon the floor of the omnibus.
"He's been giving money away," said the policeman over his shoulder to the conductor, "looks like."
"And why not, why not?" said the old gentleman. "What's the good of having money if you can't make people happy with it?"
The constable looked reflectively at him.