The leave train rolled into Victoria late in the afternoon.  Cab touts buzzed about the Babe, but he would have none of them; he would go afoot the better to see the sights of the village—­a leisurely sentimental pilgrimage.  He had not covered one hundred yards when a ducky little thing pranced up to him, squeaking, “Where are your gloves, Sir?” “I always put ’em in cold storage during summer along with my muff and boa, dear,” the Babe replied pleasantly.  “Moreover, my mother doesn’t like me to talk to strangers in the streets, so ta-ta.”  The little creature blushed like a tea-rose and stamped its little hoof.  “Insolence!” it squeaked.  “You—­you go back to France by the next boat!” and the Babe perceived to his horror that he had been witty to an Assistant Provost-Marshal!  He flung himself down on his knees, licking the A.P.M.’s boots and crying in a loud voice that he would be good and never do it again.

The A.P.M. pardoned the Babe (he wanted to save the polish on his boots) on condition that he immediately purchased a pair of gloves of the official cut and hue.  The Babe did so forthwith and continued on his way.  He had not continued ten yards when another A.P.M. tripped him up.  “That cap is a disgrace, Sir!” he barked.  “I know it, Sir,” the Babe admitted, “and I’m awfully sorry about it; but that hole in it only arrived last night—­shrapnel, you know—­and I haven’t had time to buy another yet.  I don’t care for the style they sell in those little French shops—­do you?”

The A.P.M. didn’t know anything about France or its little shops, and didn’t intend to investigate; at any rate not while there was a war on there.  “You will return to the Front to-morrow,” said he.  The Babe grasped his hand from him and shook it warmly.  “Thank you—­thank you, Sir,” he gushed; “I didn’t want to come, but they made me.  I’m from Fiji; have no friends here, and London is somehow so different from Suva it makes my head ache.  I am broke and couldn’t afford leave, anyway.  Thank you, Sir—­thank you.”

“Ahem—­in that case I will revoke my decision,” said the A.P.M.  “Buy yourself an officially-sanctioned cap and carry on.”

The Babe bought one with alacrity; then, having tasted enough of the dangers of the streets for one afternoon, took a taxi, and, lying in the bottom well out of sight, sped to his old hotel.  When he reached his old hotel he found it had changed during his absence, and was now headquarters of the Director of Bones and Dripping.  He abused the taxi-driver, who said he was sorry, but there was no telling these days; a hotel was a hotel one moment, and the next it was something entirely different.  Motion pictures weren’t in it, he said.

Finally they discovered a hotel which was still behaving as such, and the Babe got a room.  He remained in that room all the evening, beneath the bed, having his meals pushed in to him under the door.  A prowling A.P.M. sniffed at the keyhole but did not investigate further, which was fortunate for the Babe, who had no regulation pyjamas.