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e see? Of course, I ain't seen nothing of him never since I called there, and he gave me a couple o' quid, and told me to expect more--only the more's a long time o' coming, and if I do see my way to turning a honest penny by what I knows, why, then, d'ye see----"
"I see, very well," assented Triffitt. "And what might your idea of an honest penny be, now?"
The taxi-cab driver silently regarded his questioner. He had already had a five-pound note out of Carver, who carried a small fund about him in case of emergency; he was speculating on his chances of materially increasing this, and his eyes grew greedy.
"Well, now, guv'nor, what's your own notion of that?" he asked at last. "I'm a poor chap, you know, and I don't often get a chance o' making a bit in this way. What's it worth--what I can tell, you know--to you? This here young gentleman was keen enough about it this afternoon, guv'nor."
"Depends," answered Triffitt. "You'd better answer a question or two. First--you haven't told the old gentleman in Portman Square--Mr. Tertius--any more than what you told my friend here you'd told him?"
"Not a word more, guv'nor! 'Cause why--I ain't seen him since."
"And you've told nothing to the police?"
"The police ain't never come a-nigh me, and I ain't been near them. What the old chap said was--wait! And I've waited and ain't heard nothing."
"Wherefore," observed Triffitt sardonically, "you want to make a bit."
"Ain't no harm in a man doing his best for his-elf, guv'nor, I hope," said the would-be informant. "If I don't look after myself, who's a-going to look after me--I asks you that, now?"
"And I ask you--how much?" said Triffitt. "Out with it!"
The taxi-cab driver considered, eyeing his prospective customer furtively.
"The other gent told you what it is I can tell, guv'nor?" he said at last. "It's information of what you might call partik'lar importance, is that."
"I know--you can tell the name of the man whom you drove that mor