He was bunched in a corner of the cab, shuddering like a man who has just had some great shock, or who has been acting under the influence of a drug which has evaporated and left him helpless. His words came in gasps.
"If you can tell me that!—God, I'm frightened! I'm frightened! I must be crazy. Whatever made me do it? If they hear of it at the office I'll lose my job."
"They'll hear of it right enough, my boy," I sneered, "and a good many other people too. You can't do these little games with impunity."
I caught sight of the clock at Hyde Park corner. It was near a quarter to ten.
"Why," I said, "you must have been up there over twenty minutes. Think of that!"
"Don't be so hard on me," said Barber miserably. "I couldn't help it."
And he added in a low voice: "It was the Other."
I paid off the cab, and we took a 'bus which passed by the street where Barber lived. All the way I continued to reproach him. It was not enough for him to play the fool on his own account, but he must get me into a mess, too. I might lose my work through him.
I walked with him to his door. He looked extremely ill. His hand trembled so badly that he could not fit his latchkey. I opened the door for him.
"Come up and sit with a fellow," he ventured.