l quarter, but
there was something business-like in the speed which convinced him of
the contrary. The man had an object in view, he was hastening towards a
definite end; and Brackenbury was at once astonished at the fellow's
skill in picking a way through such a labyrinth, and a little concerned
to imagine what was the occasion of his hurry. He had heard tales of
strangers falling ill in London. Did the driver belong to some bloody
and treacherous association? and was he himself being whirled to a
murderous death?

The thought had scarcely presented itself, when the cab swung sharply
round a corner and pulled up before the garden gate of a villa in a long
and wide road. The house was brilliantly lighted up. Another hansom had
just driven away, and Brackenbury could see a gentleman being admitted
at the front door and received by several liveried servants. He was
surprised that the cabman should have stopped so immediately in front of
a house where a reception was being held; but he did not doubt it was
the result of accident, and sat placidly smoking where he was, until he
heard the trap thrown open over his head.

"Here we are, sir," said the driver.

"Here!" repeated Brackenbury. "Where?"

"You told me to take you where I pleased, sir," returned the man with a
chuckle, "and here we are."

It struck Brackenbury that the voice was wonderfully smooth and
courteous for a man in so inferior a position; he remembered the speed
at which he had been driven; and now it occurred to him that the hansom
was more luxuriously appointed than the common run of public
conveyances.

"I must ask you to explain," said he. "Do you mean to turn me out into
the rain? My good man, I suspect the choice is mine."

"The choice is certainly yours," replied the driver; "but when I tell
you all, I believe I know how a gentleman of your figure will decide.
There is a gentleman's party in this house. I do not know whether the
master be a stranger to London and without acquaintances of his own; or
whether he is a man of odd notions. But certainly I was hired to kidnap
single gentlemen in evening dress, as many as I pleased, but military
officers by preference. You have simply to go in and say that Mr. Morris
invited you."

"Are you Mr. Morris?" inquired the Lieutenant.

"Oh, no," replied the cabman. "Mr. Morris is the person of the house."

"It is not a common way of collecting guests," said Brackenbury: "but
an eccentric man might very