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'Whatever you say； I know I have seen you before somewhere。'
'Stop teasing。'
'I wasn't meaning to tease。 Honest。 Want to dance？'
'Not at the minute。'
'Thank the Lord。 My shoes pinch something terrible tonight。' Soon she and Mulcaster were deep in conversation。 Sebastian leaned back and said to me： 'I'm going to ask that pair to join us。'
The two unattached women who had considered us earlier； were again circling towards us。 Sebastian smiled and rose to greet them： soon they； too； were eating heartily。 One had the face of a skull； the other of a sickly child。 The Death's Head seemed destined for me。 'How about a little party；' she said； 'just the six of us over at my place？'
'Certainly；' said Sebastian。
'We thought you were fairies when you came in。'
'That was our extreme youth。'
Death's Head giggled。 'You're a good sport；' she said。 'You're very sweet really；' said the Sickly Child。 'I must just tell Mrs Mayfield we're going out。'
It was still early； not long after midnight； when we regained the street。 The missionaire tried to persuade us to take a taxi。 'I'll look after your car； sir； I wouldn't drive yourself； sir； really I wouldn't。'
But Sebastian took the wheel and the two women sat one on the other beside him； to show him the way。 Effie and Mulcaster and I sat in the back。 I think we cheered a little as we drove off。
We did not drive far。 We turned into Shaftesbury Avenue and were making for Piccadilly when we narrowly escaped a head…on collision with a taxi…cab。
'For Christ's sake； ' said Effie； 'look where you're going。 D'you want to murder us all？'
'Careless fellow that；' said Sebastian。
'It isn't safe the way you're driving；' said Death's Head。 'Besides； we ought to be on the other side of the road。'
'So we should；' said Sebastian； swinging abruptly across。
'Here； stop。 I'd sooner walk。'
'Stop？ Certainly。'
He put on the brakes and we came abruptly to a halt broadside across the road。 Two policemen quickened their stride and approached us。
'Let me out of this；' said Effie； and made her escape with a leap and a scamper。
The rest of us were caught。
'I'm sorry if I am impeding the traffic； officer；' said Sebastian with care； 'but the lady insisted on my stopping for her to get out。 She would take no denial。 As you will have observed； she was pressed for time。 A matter of nerves you know。'
'Let me talk to him； ' said Death's Head。 'Be a sport； handsome； no one's seen anything but you。 The boys don't mean any harm。 I'll get them into a taxi and see them home quiet。'
The policemen looked us over； deliberately； forming their own judgement。 Even then everything might have been well had not Mulcaster joined in。 'Look here； my good man；' he said。 'There's no need for you to notice anything。 We've just e from Ma Mayfield's。 I reckon she pays you a nice retainer to keep your eyes shut。 Well； you can keep 'em shut on us too； and you won't be the losers by it。'
That resolved any doubts which the policemen may have felt。 In a short time we were in the cells。
I remember little of the journey there or the process of admission。 Mulcaster； I think； protested vigorously and； when we were made to empty our pockets； accused his gaolers of theft。 Then we were locked in； and my first clear memory is of tiled walls with a lamp set high up under thick glass； a bunk； and a door which had no handle on my side。 Somewhere to the left of me Sebastian and Mulcaster were raising Cain。 Sebastian had been steady on his legs and fairly posed on the way to the station； now； shut in； he seemed in a frenzy and was pounding the door； and。 shouting： 'Damn you； I'm not drunk。 Open this door。 I insist on seeing the doctor。 I tell you I'm not drunk；' while Mulcaster； beyond； cried： 'My God； you'll pay for this！ You're making a great mistake； I can 'tell you。 Telephone the Home Secretary。 Send for my solicitors。 I will have habeas corpus。' Groans of protest rose from the other cells where various tramps and pickpockets were trying to get some sleep： 'Aw； pipe down！' 'Give a man some peace； can't yer？'。。。'Is this a blinking lock…up or a looney…house？' … and the sergeant； going his rounds； admonished them through the grille。 'You'll be here all night if you don't sober up。'
。 I sat on the bunk in low spirits and dozed a little。 Presently the racket subsided and Sebastian called： 'I say； Charles； are you there？'
'Here I am。'
'This is the hell of a business。'
'Can't we get bail or something？'
Mulcaster seemed to have fallen asleep。
'I tell you the man … Rex Mottram。 He'd be in his element here。'
We had some difficulty in getting in touch with him； it was half an hour before the policeman in charge answered my bell。 At last he consented； rather sceptically； to send a telephone message to the hotel where the ball was being held。 There was another long delay and then our prison doors were opened。
Seeping through the squalid air of the police station； the sour smell of dirt and disinfectant； came the sweet； rich smoke of a Havana cigar … of two Havana cigars； for the sergeant in charge was smoking also。
Rex stood in the charge…room looking the embodiment indeed； the burlesque … of power and prosperity； he wore a fur…lined overcoat with broad astrakhan lapels and a silk hat。 The police were deferential and eager to help。
'We had to do our duty；' they said。 'Took the young gentlemen into custody for their own protection。'
Mulcaster looked crapulous and began a confused plaint that he had been denied legal representation and civil rights。 Rex said： 'Better leave all the talking to me。'
I was clear…headed now and watched and listened with fascination while Rex settled our business。 He examined the charge sheets； spoke affably to the men who had made the arrest； with the slightest perceptible nuance he opened the way for bribery and quickly covered it when he saw that things had now lasted too long and the knowledge had been too widely shared； he undertook to deliver us at the magistrate's court at ten next morning； and then led us away。 His car was outside。
'It's no use discussing things tonight。 Where are you sleeping。？'
'Marchers； ' said Sebastian。
'You'd better e to me。 I can fix you up for tonight。 Leave everything to me。'
It was plain that he rejoiced in his efficiency。
Next morning the display was even more impressive。 I awoke with the startled and puzzled sense of being in a strange room； and in the first seconds of consciousness the memory of the evening before returned； first as though of a nightmare； then of reality。 Rex's valet was unpacking a suitcase。 On seeing me move he went to the wash…hand stand and poured something from a bottle。 'I think I have everything from Marchmain House；' he said。 'Mr Mottram sent round to Heppell's for this。'
I took the draught and felt better。
A man was there from Trumper's to shave us。
Rex joined us at breakfast。 'It's important to make a good appearance at the court；' he said。 'Luckily none of you look much the worse for wear。'
After breakfast the barrister arrived and Rex delivered a summary of th