"Thank you," she said simply. "I should be very grateful if you would."
Under a fire of curious glances they pushed their way through the crowd and started off along the pavement in the direction of Jubilee Place.
Colin was the first to break the silence.
"Where did you spring from?" he asked. "I never saw you until you blew the whistle."
"I had just come out to buy a stamp," replied his companion. "I was walking peacefully along to King's Road when I suddenly found myself right in the middle of it."
"Well, you've got some pluck," said Colin admiringly. "That Inspector was quite right in what he said. Most girls would have given a shriek and flopped down in the gutter."
She coloured again in the same attractive fashion as before.
"It wasn't a question of pluck," she objected. "I acted entirely from impulse. If I had had time to think I should probably have done what you say." She stopped short with a little gesture of annoyance. "Oh dear, how stupid I am! I've quite forgotten to buy the stamp after all."
"It doesn't matter," said Colin. "I've got one in my pocket I can let you have."
They turned up a narrow street with some white buildings on one side of it, and at the door of the second house the girl halted.