Diamond repeated the riddle.

"Oh! that's easy enough," he returned. "It's a tree."

"Well, it ain't got no mouth, sure enough; but how then does it eat all
day long?"

"It sucks in its food through the tiniest holes in its leaves," he
answered. "Its breath is its food. And it can't do it except in the
daylight."

"Thank you, sir, thank you," returned Diamond. "I'm sorry I couldn't
find it out myself; Mr. Raymond would have been better pleased with me."

"But you needn't tell him any one told you."

Diamond gave him a stare which came from the very back of the north
wind, where that kind of thing is unknown.

"That would be cheating," he said at last.

"Ain't you a cabby, then?"

"Cabbies don't cheat."

"Don't they? I am of a different opinion."

"I'm sure my father don't."

"What's your fare, young innocent?"

"Well, I think the distance is a good deal over three miles--that's two
shillings. Only father says sixpence a mile is too little, though we
can't ask for more."

"You're a deep one. But I think you're wrong. It's over four miles--not
much, but it is."

"Then that's half-a-crown," said Diamond.

"Well, here's three shillings. Will that do?"

"Thank you kindly, sir. I'll tell my father how good you were to
me--first to tell me my riddle, then to put me right about the distance,
and then to give me sixpence over. It'll help father to get well again,
it will."

"I hope it may, my man. I shouldn't wonder if you're as good as you
look, after all."

As Diamond returned, he drew up at a stand he had never been on before:
it was time to give Diamond his bag of chopped beans and oats. The men
got about him, and began to chaff him. He took it all good-humouredly,
until one of them, who was an ill-conditioned fellow, began to tease old
Diamond by poking him roughly in the ribs, and making general game of
him. That he could not bear, and the tears came in his eyes. He undid
the nose-bag, put it in the boot, and was just going to mount and drive
away, when the fellow interfered, and would not let him get up. Diamond
endeavoured to persuade him, and was very civil, but he would have his
fun out of him, as he said. In a few minutes a group of idle boys had
assembled, and Diamond found himself in a very uncomfortable position.
Another cab drew up at the stand, and the driver got off and approached
the assemblage.

"What's up here?" he asked, and Diamond knew the voice. It was that of
the drunken c