"You mustn't take it too seriously," she continued, as soon as they were alone again. "It was a detestable thing of Major Fenton to say, but I don't think he meant any real harm by it. He explained that he'd heard the story from somebody at his club, and that he'd only repeated it to me because he felt that it was his duty. As I told you before, just because he once knew my father, he seems to have some ridiculous notion that he ought to look after me." Colin, who had been sprinkling a little pepper into his soup, looked up with a smile. "Well, don't let's waste our time discussing it any more," he said cheerfully. "It's just a silly lie, and, anyway, there are lots of much pleasanter things to talk about." He raised his glass. "I'm going to propose the health of our old pal 'Ginger Dick.' He may have his faults, but, after all, if it wasn't for him we shouldn't be sitting here now." "That's true," agreed Nancy. "Here's to 'Ginger Dick." She took a long sip and then set down her glass. "If that's sparkling Moselle," she added thoughtfully, "I don't think I'll bother about tasting the champagne." * * * * * * * * * At about twenty minutes before midnight, faithful to his pledged word, the reliable Joe slouched forward out of the shadows and greeted them with a friendly salute. "'Ere we are, guv'nor," he announced. "All ready an' waitin' for yer, as the grave-digger said." He opened the door of the car for Nancy, and, making his way round to the front, succeeded after two or three abortive efforts in starting up the engine. "She's a bit cold, like meself," he continued. "It's bin freezin' crool 'ard all the evenin', an' I reckon we both got a touch of it in our innards." "You must follow it up with something hot," said Colin, handing him another half-crown. "Rum's the best as long as you don't put too much water into it." "I ain't likely to," replied Joe, with a grin. "There's quite enough o' that done before we gets the blarsted stuff." He pocketed the coin, and, closing the door after them, stepped back on to the pavement. "Good-night, sir, an' thank yer kindly. Good-night, miss, an' Gawd bless yer both." "I like Joe," said Nancy, as they slid out into the glare and tumult of Piccadilly Circus. "Is that his profession--standing there all night looking after cars?" "That's his present profession," replied Colin, "but he's what you might call come down in the world. Before he took to drink he used to be one of the best middle-weight boxers in England." Nancy opened her blue eyes to their fullest extent. "A prize-fighter?" she exclaimed. Colin nodded. "Joe Bates of Wapping. One of the gamest men who ever stepped into a ring." "What made him take to drink?" inquired Nancy.