. I was in Maximilian Street at
the time, admiring the proportions of the thoroughfare and ready for
anything. The rain suggested to me that I should take a taxi to the
Rumpelmayer's of Munich. A closed one was crawling by the kerb
opposite to me, on the far side of the road. I put up my stick, and it
slowed down. I crossed to it, spoke to the driver, who scowled at me,
seemingly because I approached him from the road and not from the
pavement--Munich is very particular--and got in. As I sat back in the
dark corner, the opposite door opened. The light of the offside lamps
showed me two big, brown eyes, a dear, puzzled face, half wondering,
half wanting to laugh, and a row of white teeth catching a red upper
lip that trembled in a smile. The next moment their owner stepped
quickly in, the driver let in his clutch with a jerk, and my unwitting
companion was projected heavily into the corner--not mine--she had been
about to occupy.

She swore gently.

"That's right," said I.

She jumped properly.

"Good Heavens!"

"I'm so sorry, but I'm all right," said I, "I assure you. Young man of
gentlemanly appearance. Harrow and Oxford, terms moderate, bathroom
and domestic offices, possession early in June--"

"Get out of my cab at once."

"--will send photograph if required. Whose cab?"

"Well, I engaged it."

"So did I."

"When?"

"Just now."

"How awfully funny."

"Isn't it? I'm so glad. I'm English, too, you know. I can prove that
by my German. And--"

"But you don't want to go where I do."

"But I do."

"Don't be silly! You know what I mean."

At this moment the off hind wheel of a big limousine, which was passing
us, caught our near front wheel. The steering-wheel was knocked out of
the cabman's hands, and we landed up against a lamp-post with a crash
that flung my companion and myself on to the floor of the taxi. The
girl cried out, put her small hand into my mouth, and sat up.

I spoke into her glove.

"Are you hurt?"

"No, but I think I'm going to cry."

"Don't, my dear. It's all right. All the same, it's an outrage and a
casus belli. Where does the British Ambassador live?"

Here the door was opened. The girl released me to adjust her hat, and
I rolled on to the step and sat looking at a tall footman, who raised
his hat and said something in German. The next minute a lady appeared.
She began to speak in German, then:

"Oh, you are English," she said. I rose and bowe