Bugg sniffed contemptuously.  "'E ain't much of a king, sir. I don't wonder they give 'im the chuck. A real king wouldn't taike on abaht droppin' a few quids." 

 "I daresay you're right," said Tony.  "A certain recklessness in finance——" 

 He suddenly pulled up and for a moment remained where he was, staring across the street. On the opposite pavement, in the bright circle of light thrown by one of the big electric standards, he had caught sight of the figure of a girl, who at that distance reminded him curiously of Molly Monk. She had apparently just come out of the entrance to some flats above, and with a bag in her hand she was standing there in an uncertain, indefinite sort of way, as though she scarcely knew what to do next. 

 Realizing that it couldn't be Molly, who was of course at the theatre, Tony was just about to move on again, when something checked him. 

 Two well-dressed men in dark overcoats and soft hats had suddenly appeared out of the shadow ahead and advanced quickly to where the girl was standing. For an instant they all three remained facing each other under the light, and then taking off his hat, one of them addressed her. 

 With a little frightened gesture the girl shrank back against the wall, where she glanced wildly round as though seeking for some means of escape. The man who had spoken followed her forward, his hat still in his hand, apparently making an effort to reassure her. 

 Tony turned to Bugg.  "We really can't allow this sort of thing in Long Acre," he observed.  "It has always been a most respectable street." 

 He threw away his cigarette, and followed by the future champion of England started off briskly across the road. 

 On hearing their footsteps the two men spun round with some abruptness. They were both obviously foreigners, and the sight of their sallow faces and black moustaches filled Tony with a pleasant sense of patriotic morality. 

 Without paying any attention to either of them he walked straight up to the girl, and taking off his hat made her a slight bow. 

 "I beg your pardon," he said, "but from the other side of the road it looked as if these gentlemen were annoying you. Can I be of any assistance?" 

 She gazed up at him with grateful eyes. At close quarters her resemblance to 

 Prev. P 29/265 next