"Me it is, guv'nor; but I didn't know there was to be a 'cop' here"--this with a suspicious glance at Bruce and a backward movement towards the door. "Do not be alarmed," said the barrister; "this gentleman's presence implies no trouble for you. We want you to help us, and if you do so willingly I will make up that lost fiver you received for driving two people to Putney the night you were arrested." The poor old cabman became very confused on hearing this staggering remark. Up to that moment he regarded Bruce as the agent for a charitable association, and there was no harm, he told his "missus," in trying to "knock him for a bit." He stood nervously fumbling with his hat, but did not answer. White knew how to deal with him. "Sit down, Foxey, and have a drink. You need one to cheer you up. Answer this gentleman's questions. He means you no harm." "Honor bright?" "Honor bright." "Well, I don't mind if I do. No soda, thank you, sir. Just a small drop of water. Ah, that's better stuff 'n they keep in Holloway." Thus fortified, Marsh had no hesitation in telling them what he knew. Substantially, his story was identical with the version given to Bruce by the ticket collector. "Can you describe the gentleman?" said the barrister. "No, sir. He was just like any other swell. Tall and well-dressed, and talked in the 'aw-'aw style. It might ha' been yerself for all I could tell." "Do you think it was I?" Foxey scratched his head. "No, p'r'aps it wasn't, now I come to rec'llect. He 'ad a moustache, and you 'aven't. Beggin' yer pardon, sir, but you 'ave a bit of the cut of a parson or a hactor, an' this chap wasn't neither--just an every-day sort of toff." "Could you swear to him if you saw him?" "That I couldn't, sir. I am a rare 'and at langwidge, but I couldn't manage that." "Why?" "Because that night, sir, I were as full as a tick when I started. Lord love you, it must 'ave poured out of me afterwards when I started fightin' coppers. Mr. White, 'e knows, I ain't no fightin' man as a rule." "And the _lady_? Did you see her?" "No, sir. Leastways, I seed a bundle which I took to be a lydy, but her face was covered up with a shawl, and she was lyin' 'eavy in 'is arms as though she was mortal bad. He tell'd me she was sick." "Did he? Anything else?" "No, sir." "Are you sure it was a shawl?" A vacuous smile spread over Foxey's countenance as he answered, "I ain't sure of anythink that 'appened that night." "But were you not surprised when a man hired your cab under such peculiar circumstances, and paid you such a high fare?" "We four-wheelers are surprised at nothink, sir. You don't know all wot goes on in kebs. Why, once crossin' Waterloo Bridge--" "Never mind Waterloo Bridge, Foxey," put in the detective. "Keep your wits fixed on as much as you can remember of November 6." "Where did he tell you to drive to?" went on Bruce.