He passed out again through the hall, and jumping into the car steered his way slowly round the corner into Long Acre, where he branched off in the direction of Piccadilly. He was just passing Garnett's, the celebrated theatrical costumier, when the door of that eminent establishment swung open, and a very pretty and smartly dressed girl stepped out on to the pavement. Directly Tony saw her he checked the car and turned it gently in towards the gutter. She came up to him with a most attractive smile. "But how convenient, Tony," she exclaimed. "You will be able to drive me home. I was just going to waste my money on a taxi." He leaned across and opened the door. "You can give me the bob instead, Molly," he said. "Jump in." She stepped up alongside of him, and with a harsh croak the big car glided forward again into the thronging bustle of Leicester Square. "Funny picking you up like this," he said. "I've just been talking about you." "I'm always being talked about," replied Molly serenely. "I hope you weren't as nasty as most people." "I was saying that you were the only girl in London with that particular shade of red hair." Tony brought out this shameless untruth with the utmost coolness. "It is rather nice, isn't it?" said Molly. "All the girls think I touch it up. As a matter of fact it's one of the few parts of me I don't." She paused. "What were you really saying about me, Tony?" "Oh, quite nice things," he replied. "Can you fancy me saying anything else?" "No," she said. "I'll admit you're an amiable beast as men go. But why haven't you been to see me lately?" Grasping his opportunity Tony darted across the bows of an onrushing motor-bus, and gained the comparative shelter of Regent Street. "If it is a fact," he observed, "I can only attribute it to idiocy." "You know it's a fact," said Molly, "and it's hurt me, Tony. I wouldn't mind being chucked by any one else. But somehow you're different. I have always looked on you as a pal." Tony slipped his left hand off the wheel for a second and lightly squeezed hers. "So I am, Molly," he said. "Why on earth should I have changed?" "I thought you might be sick with me about--well, about Peter." "Good Lord, no," said Tony. "I never criticize my friends' hobbies. If I haven't routed you out lately, it's only because I've been really busy." Her face brightened. "You're a nice old thing, Tony," she said. "Come and lunch with me to-morrow if you're not booked up. Just us two. I really do want to have a talk with you, badly." "Right-o," said Tony. "You'll be able to give me the latest stable information about Lopez. It's the fight to-morrow night, you know." Molly nodded. "Peter thinks he's going to win all right," she said. "He's cocksure about it."