_Crowd._ Why can't yer pay the man his fare and have done with it? There, he's feeling in his pockets--he's going to pay yer now! [_Elderly Gentleman dives vaguely in a pocket, and eventually produces a threepenny bit, which he tenders magnificently._ _Cabman._ Thruppence ain't no good _to me_--two shillings is what I want out o' _you_--a florin--'j'ear me? _The E. G._ (_after another dive fishes up three halfpence_). Thash all you're 'titled, to--go 'way, go 'way! _Crowd_ (_soothingly to Cabman_). 'E'll make it up in time--don't '_urry_ 'im. _Cabman._ D' ye think I kin stand 'ere cooling my 'eels, while he's payin' me a 'apn'y every 'arf 'our? I've got my living to earn same as _you_ 'ave! _Crowd._ Ah, he's right there! (_Persuasively to Elderly Gentleman._) 'Ere, Ole Guv'nor, fork out like a man! [_The Old Guv'nor shakes his head at them with a knowing expression._ _Cabman._ Well, I shan't let go o' this 'ere bag till I _am_ paid--that's all! [_Here a Policeman arrives on scene._ _Policeman._ Now, then, what's all this? Move along 'ere, all of you--don't go blocking up the thoroughfare like this! (_Scathingly_.) What are yer all _lookin'_ at? (_The Crowd, feeling this rebuke, move away some three paces, and then linger undecidedly._) 'Ere, Cabman, you've no right to lay 'old on that gentleman's bag--_you_ know that as well as I do! _Cabman_ (_somewhat mollified by this tribute to his legal knowledge, releases bag_). Well, _he_ ain't got no right to ride in my keb, and do a guy, without paying nothink, 'as he? _Policeman._ All I tell _you_ is--you've no right to detain his bag. _Cabman._ Let 'im pay me my legal fare, then--two shillings it is 'e owes _me_. I don't want to hinterfere with 'im, if he'll pay me. _Pol._ (_with a magnificent impartality, to the E. G._). What have you got to say to _that_? _The E. G._ (_with a dignified wave of the hand_). Shay? Why, tha' I'm shimply--a gerrilm'n. _Pol._ (_his impartiality gradually merging into official disgust_). Well, all I can say to _you_ is, if you _are_ one, don't abuse it.... Where are you going to? _The E. G._ (_brimming over with happy laughter_). _I_ dunno! _Pol._ (_deciding to work on his fears_). Don't you? Well, _I do_, then. I know where _you_'re goin' to--ah, and where you'll _be_, too, afore you're much older--the station-'us!--(_with a slight lapse into jocularity, in concession to his audience_)--"for one night honly"--that's _your_ direction, unless you look out. (_With virtuous indignation._) 'Ere are you--calling yourself a gentleman, and old enough to know better--riding in this man's keb, and trying to bilk him out of his money. Why, you ought to be _ashamed_ o' yourself! _A Funny Onlooker._ Now, Policeman, why do you interfere? Why can't you leave them to settle it between them?