In his particular line genius certainly
consists of an infinite capacity for taking precautions."
With that reflection Gortsby rose to go; as he did so an exclamation of
concern escaped him. Lying on the ground by the side of the bench was a
small oval packet, wrapped and sealed with the solicitude of a chemist's
counter. It could be nothing else but a cake of soap, and it had
evidently fallen out of the youth's overcoat pocket when he flung himself
down on the seat. In another moment Gortsby was scudding along the dusk-
shrouded path in anxious quest for a youthful figure in a light overcoat.
He had nearly given up the search when he caught sight of the object of
his pursuit standing irresolutely on the border of the carriage drive,
evidently uncertain whether to strike across the Park or make for the
bustling pavements of Knightsbridge. He turned round sharply with an air
of defensive hostility when he found Gortsby hailing him.
"The important witness to the genuineness of your story has turned up,"
said Gortsby, holding out the cake of soap; "it must have slid out of
your overcoat pocket when you sat down on the seat. I saw it on the
ground after you left. You must excuse my disbelief, but appearances
were really rather against you, and now, as I appealed to the testimony
of the soap I think I ought to abide by its verdict. If the loan of a
sovereign is any good to you--"
The young man hastily removed all doubt on the subject by pocketing the
coin.
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