“No, there isn’t,” said I.

“What d’you mean?” was the indignant retort.

“What I say.  Our hall is bagless.”

“I say,” said the voice with laboured clarity, “I say there is a bag in the hall.  A BAG.  Hang it all, you know what a bag is?”

“Rather,” said I heartily.  “What you put nuts in.  An uncle of mine had one.”

The vehemence with which the unknown subscriber replaced his receiver was terrible to hear.

Ten minutes later Fitch entered the room.

“Can you get to the Albert Hall to-night, Fitch?” said Daphne.

“I think so, madam.  If we go slow.”

“Can you get back from the Albert Hall to-morrow afternoon?” said Berry.

“If I can get there, sir, I can get back.”

“How long will it take?”

“I ought to do it in ’alf an hour, sir.  I can push along in the Park, where it’s all straight going.  It’s getting along the streets as’ll take the time.  It’s not that I won’t find me way, but it’s the watchin’ out for the hother vehicles, so as they don’t run into you.”

“Bit of an optimist, aren’t you?”

“I don’t think so, sir.”

“Thank you, Fitch,” said Daphne hastily.  “Half-past nine, please.”

“Very good, madam.”

He bowed and withdrew.

Triumphantly my sister regarded her husband.

“At making a mountain out of a molehill,” she said, “no one can touch you.”

Berry returned her gaze with a malevolent stare.  Then he put a thumb to his nose and extended his fingers in her direction.

* * * * *

The unfortunate incident occurred in the vicinity of Stanhope Gate.

So far we had come very slowly, but without incident, and, in spite of the fact that we were insufficiently clad, we were nice and warm.  For this, so far as Berry and I were concerned, two footwarmers and a pair of rugs were largely responsible, for the elaborate nature of our costumes put the wearing of overcoats out of the question.  A high-collared Italian cloak of the shape that was seen in the time of Elizabeth made it impossible for me to wear a surtout of any description, and I was reduced to wrapping a muffler about my neck and holding a woollen shawl across my chest, while Berry, in that puffed and swollen array, which instantly remembers Henry the Eighth, derived what comfort he could from an enormous cloak of Irish frieze which, while it left his chest uncovered, succeeded in giving him a back about four feet square.

Hitherto we had encountered little or no traffic, and an excellent judgment, coupled with something akin to instinct, on the part of Fitch had brought us surely along the streets; but here, almost before we knew it, there were vehicles in front and on either side.  Hoarse directions were being shouted, lanterns were being waved, engines were running, and a few feet away frantic endeavours were being made to persuade a pair of horses to disregard twin headlights whose brilliancy was adding to the confusion.  Berry lowered the window.