He yawned
without dislodging the cigarette.
"Gentleman wants to g'wout." Paul vanished.
Nap had already leaped to a seat in the red car. He had learned what
those things were for.
Paul reappeared, trim in leathern cap, well-fitting Norfolk jacket and
shining puttees.
"Never know he only had on an undershirt," thought Bean, struck by this
swiftly devised effect of correct dressing. He sat in the roomy rear
seat beside Nap, leaning an elbow negligently on the arm-rest. He
watched Paul shrewdly in certain mysterious preparations for starting
the car. An observer would have said that one false move on Paul's part
would have been enough.
The car rolled out and turned into the wide avenue half a block away.
"Where to, Boss?" asked Paul.
"Just around," said Bean. "Tea and things!"
They glided swiftly on.
"Oh, just a little old last year's car!" said Bean, frowning royally at
a couple of mere foot people who turned to stare.
What would that flapper do next?
He surrendered to the movement. Drunkenly he mused upon a wild
inspiration to bring Ram-tah out and give him a ride in this big red
car. It appealed to him much. Ram-tah would almost open his eyes at the
novelty of that progress. But he felt that this was no safe thing to do.
He would be arrested. The whole secret might come out.
He had retained no sense of direction, but he was presently conscious of
the river close at his side, and then the car, with warning blasts,
curved up to a much lighted building and halted.
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