Ambrose had taken a cab at his own door, and his first visit was to the
Bond Street jeweller who had sold him the opals.
He was quite sure that he had shut up the devil in his office safe, and
as he drove it seemed to him that he became conscious of a new world
round about him, though just how it was new he could not have told you.
Everybody wore a look of great content--there was subdued laughter but
no real merriment--nor did any hasten as though he had real business to
do; while the very taxi-cabs drove with circumspection, and actually
waited for old ladies to cross the street before them. When his own cab
stopped he gave the man half a crown as usual; but the driver called
him back and pointed out his error.
"Excuse me, sir, eighteenpence is the fare with threepence for my
gratuity, that makes one and ninepence. So I have to give you ninepence
back, although I thank you all the same."
Ambrose pocketed the money, quite insensible of anything but the man's
civility, and entered immediately into the sanctum of the great
jeweller.
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