Mrs Trevelyan had staggered against the railings, and was soon screaming in her wretchedness.  Before long there was a small crowd around them, comprising three or four women, a few boys, an old man or two and a policeman.  To the policeman Nora had soon told the whole story, and the cabman was of course attacked.  But the cabman played his part very well.  He declared that he had done just what he had been told to do.  Nora was indeed sure that she had heard her uncle desire him to drive to Gregg’s Hotel in Baker Street.  The cabman in answer to this, declared that he had not clearly heard the old gentleman’s directions; but that a man whom he had conceived to be a servant, had very plainly told him to drive to Parker’s Hotel, Mowbray Street, Gower Street.  ’I comed ever so far out of my way,’ said the cabman, ’to avoid the rumpus with the homnibuses at the hill cause the ladies things is so heavy we’d never got up if the ‘otherwise had once jibbed.’  All which, though it had nothing to do with the matter, seemed to impress the policeman with the idea that the cabman, if not a true man, was going to be too clever for them on this occasion.  And the crafty cabman went on to declare that his horse was so tired with the road that he could not go on to Baker Street.  They must get another cab.  Take his number!  Of course they could take his number.  There was his number.  His fare was four and six, that is, if the ladies wouldn’t pay him anything extra for the terrible load; and he meant to have it.  It would be sixpence more if they kept him there many minutes longer.  The number was taken, and another cab was got, and the luggage was transferred, and the money was paid, while the unhappy mother was still screaming in hysterics against the railings.  What had been done was soon clear enough to all those around her.  Nora had told the policeman, and had told one of the women, thinking to obtain their sympathy and assistance.  ’It’s the kid’s dada as has taken it,’ said one man, ‘and there ain’t nothing to be done.’  There was nothing to be done, nothing, at any rate, then and there.

Nora had been very eager that the cabman should be arrested; but the policeman assured her that such an arrest was out of the question, and would have been useless had it been possible.  The man would be forthcoming if his presence should be again desired, but he had probably, so said the policeman, really been desired to drive to Mowbray Street.  ’They knows where to find me if they wants me, only I must be paid my time,’ said the cabman confidently.  And the policeman was of opinion that as the boy had been kidnapped on behalf of the father, no legal steps could be taken either for the recovery of the child or for the punishment of the perpetrators of the act.  He got up, however, on the box of the cab, and accompanied the party to the hotel in Baker Street.  They reached it almost exactly at the same time with Sir Marmaduke and Lady Rowley, and the reader must imagine