I locked the gate arter 'em and went back to the office, and I 'adn't
been there above 'arf an hour when somebody started ringing the gate-
bell as if they was mad. I thought it was the cook's lot come back at
fust, so I opened the wicket just a trifle and peeped out. There was a
'ansom-cab standing outside, and I 'ad hardly got my nose to the crack
when the actor-chap, still in my clothes, pushed the door open and
nipped in.

"You've lost," he ses, pushing the door to and smiling all over.
"Where's your sixpence?"

"Lost?" I ses, hardly able to speak. "D'ye mean to tell me you've been
to my wife arter all--arter all I said to you?"

"I do," he ses, nodding, and smiling agin. "They were both deceived as
easy as easy."

"Both?" I ses, staring at 'im. "Both wot? 'Ow many wives d'ye think
I've got? Wot d'ye mean by it?"

"Arter I left you," he ses, giving me a little poke in the ribs, "I
picked up a cab and, fust leaving my bag at Aldgate, I drove on to your
'ouse and knocked at the door. I knocked twice, and then an angry-
looking woman opened it and asked me wot I wanted.

"'It's all right, missis,' I ses. 'I've got 'arf an hour off, and I've
come to take you out for a walk.'

"'Wot?' she ses, drawing back with a start.