towards the upper corner, the actor lounged up to the entrance of the court, blocking the doorway with his athletic figure. After what seemed an eternity, Banborough achieved the corner of the block, and, mounting the box, turned the horses' heads down the side street, keeping an eagle eye upon the entrance of the court-room, within which his companion had now disappeared. Perhaps three minutes had elapsed when the actor came out, running quietly towards him so as not to attract attention. The street was well-nigh deserted, and no one seemed to have noticed the movements of the Black Maria. "Walk slowly till we're round the corner, and then drive for all you're worth!" gasped Spotts, springing on to the seat beside him. Cecil followed his directions implicitly, and[Pg 47] a moment later they went tearing down the side street, and swung round the corner into an avenue, nearly colliding with a cable-car in the process, and causing a wild scatteration of passengers and pedestrians. [Pg 47] "Here, that won't do!" cried the actor above the rattle occasioned by their rapid progress over the cobblestones. "Ring the bell, or we'll be arrested!" "Where?" called Banborough. "That knob under your feet. Press it!" The Englishman did as directed, and instantly the most hideous clamour arose beneath the carriage. The horses, which had been flying before, excited by the noise, put down their heads and tore blindly forward. The vehicle rocked and swayed, and the avenue and its occupants swept by in an indistinguishable blur. "They'll surely track us by the noise!" screamed Cecil, trying to make himself heard above the horrible din. "We're too far off by this time," returned Spotts. "Can you manage the horses?"[Pg 48] [Pg 48] "Oh, they're all right so long as we've a clear road!" yelled Banborough in reply. They were now well under way, the traffic ahead of them swerving wildly to right and left at the insistent clamour of the bell. They rushed forward by leaps and bounds, an occasional stretch of asphalt giving them an instant's respite from the dreadful shaking of the cobblestones. They spoke but little, excitement keeping them quiet, but the Englishman suffered keenly in spirit at the thought of
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