The carriage disengaged itself, the pace quickened, he began to run, and collided with pedestrians who cursed him.

Now--now or never--a cab! By good luck he plunged into a hansom wanting a fare.
"The carriage--friends of mine--that carriage!" "Ketch 'em up ?" asked the driver briskly.
"No--same 'ouse--follow!" As he flung himself into the vehicle he seriously feared he was on the point of breaking a blood vessel, never had he been at such extremity of breath.

But his eyes clung to the brougham in dread lest he should lose sight of it, or confuse it with another.

The driver whipped his horse.

Thank goodness, the carriage remained well in sight.