He. Here's one, really empty. Hi! Hi! Taxi! Hi! Hi!
[The flag is up but the driver shakes his head, makes a noise which sounds like "dinner" and glides serenely on.
He. Well, I'm blamed! Did you ever see anything like it? What's that he said?
I. It sounded like "dinner."
He. Dinner! Of all the something cheek! Dinner! What's the world coming to?
I (brilliantly). Perhaps he's hungry.
He. Hungry! Greedy, you mean. Hansom drivers never refused to take you because they were hungry. It's monstrous. Bless the War, anyway. (Looking at his watch) I say, we must put a spurt on. You don't mind, do you?
I (more mendaciously, and wondering why I'm so weak). Oh, no.
[We both begin to scuttle, half run and half walk.
I (panting). As I was saying, they're not A1 at overcoats, but they've a first-class cutter for everything else. Just tell me if you want to change and I'll introduce you, and then you'll get special treatment. There's nothing they wouldn't do for me.