e. I can't
run the risk of missing him to-night."

Gammon caught him by the arm and persuaded him to come out into the
passage; but the only result of this was that Lord Polperro dismissed
the cab, repeating obstinately that he would wait Greenacre's arrival.

"But ten to one he's waiting for us down yonder," urged Gammon.

"He won't wait very long, and we shall pass him on the road if we go
back now. I tell you it is my pleasure to remain here! You forget
yourself, Gammon. I know we are old friends, but you forget our
positions."

The man of commerce laughed contemptuously.

"Look here," he said the next moment. "Let's walk as far as St. Paul's
and have a look at the crowd."

"The crowd? What crowd?"

When he had heard the explanation his lordship readily assented.
Certainly they would stroll as far as St. Paul's and back again, by
that time Greenacre might have come. It seemed probable that when they
had gone a little distance Lord Polperro would feel shaky and consent
to take a cab. Drink, however, had invigorated the man; he reeled a
little and talked very huskily, but declared that the walk was
enjoyable.

"Let's go into the crowd, Gammon. I like a crowd. What are those bells
ringing for? Yes, yes, of course, I remember--New Year's Eve. I had no
idea that people came here to see the New Year in. I shall come again.
I shall come every year; it's most enjoyable."

They entered the Churchyard and were soon amid a noisy, hustling
throng, an assembly composed of clerks and countermen, roughs and
pickpockets, with a sprinkling of well-to-do rowdies, and numerous
girls or women, whose shrieks, screams, and yelps sounded above the
deeper notes of masculine uproar. Gammon, holding tight to his
companion's arm, endeavoured to pilot him in a direction where the
crowd was thinnest, still moving westward; but Lord Polperro caught the
contagion of the tumult and began pressing vehemently into the surging
mass.

"This does me good, Gammon. It's a long time since I've mixed with
people. I always enjoyed a crowd. Holloo--o--o!"

His excited shout made him cough terribly; none the less he pushed on.

"You'll come to harm," said the other. "Don't be a fool; get out of
this."

A struggle began between them; but by this time they were so thickly
encompassed that Gammon had small chance of forcing his companion away.
Lord Polperro did not resent the tugs at his arm; he took it for genial
horseplay, and only shouted lou