Dinner over, the Long ’Un hailed a hansom, and, Koko having stowed himself away inside, took his place with a brief "Exhibition!" to the driver. "_Dora!_" breathed Jim, as the cab sped across the Circus and headed for Piccadilly. "I expect she likes nice, quiet men," said Koko. "Not she," returned Jim with conviction. "A nice, quiet, home-loving man--not a man who shouts, and swears, and behaves like an over-grown schoolboy," persisted Mr George Somers. "You’re very severe to-night, my bald-headed young friend," quoth the Long ’Un, with supreme good-humour. "Never mind about _my_ head," said Koko; "think what _yours_ will be like in the morning." "But it is to-night!" cried the Long ’Un, "it is to-night, and I mean to go the whole hog. Let the morning take care of itself. It is to-night; I have seen her; I _know_ her; and now I am enjoying myself very much." "You are also," added Koko, "on the verge of intoxication." "Very near the verge," whooped the Long ’Un. The cab was approaching Hyde Park Corner when Jim raised the little trap-door above his head. "I’ve changed my mind, cabby; drive back to the Empire." "Empire? Yessir!" "You’ll be chucked out of there to a certainty," said Koko, despairingly. "Not me," said Jim. But at the music-hall Mortimer was politely refused admittance by a man as tall as himself, and considerably broader. "No, sir; you gave us trouble the last time you were here. I haven’t forgotten you, sir." "But that was Boat Race night," protested Jim. "No matter, sir; can’t let you in." And the official squared his great shoulders and glanced at another official, almost as big as himself, who was standing a few yards away. Simultaneously Koko gave Jim’s sleeve a tug. "Come on," he said; "no good getting into a row." Reluctantly Jim turned on his heel; he was in a mood for battle, and he had an idea that, big as the official was, he (Jim) could have rendered a pretty good account of himself had it come to a scrap. The cab they had employed was lingering in the vicinity of the entrance. Jim hailed it and again gave the order "Exhibition." And in the course of thirty minutes or so, Koko and he found themselves passing through the turnstiles at that popular resort. Very pleasant it was, too, sauntering through the bazaars and make-believe old streets, and round the band-stands, while eye and ear were charmed with colour and music respectively, and the promenading multitude laughed and chattered, forgetting the day’s cares in a spell of enjoyable indolence. But Jim was bent on celebrating the great event of the day--his introduction to Miss Maybury. He was desirous of applying more rebellious liquor to his young blood, and intimated the fact to a little Swiss waiter. "_Dora!_" Jim gave the toast and drained his glass at a gulp. Up came Carlo again with a smile of appreciation. "As before," said Jim, and again toasted Dora.