seemed inclined to dispute it, and, at the end of her patience, Nan
herself made a grab at her hat-box with the intention of carrying it
across to the other taxicab. In the same moment she felt it quietly
taken from her and heard the same drawling voice addressing her
recalcitrant driver.

"Bring that suit-case across and look sharp about it."

There was a curious quality of authority in the lazy voice to which the
taxi-man responded in spite of himself, and he proceeded to obey the
order with celerity. A minute later the transference was accomplished
and Nan found herself sitting side by side in a taxi with an absolute
stranger.

"He was a perfect _beast_ of a driver!" was her first heart-felt
ejaculation.

The man beside her smiled.

"I'm sure he was--a regular 'down-with-everything' type," he replied.

She stole a veiled glance at him. His face was lean, with a squarish
jaw, and the very definitely dark brows and lashes contrasted oddly with
his English-fair hair and blue-grey eyes. In one eye he wore a
horn-rimmed monocle from which depended a narrow black ribbon.

"I can't thank you enough for coming to my rescue," said Nan, after her
quick scrutiny. "It was so frightfully important that I should catch
this train."