Someone looked out of the window, and with a vague, troubled surprise Nan realised that the cab's solitary passenger was of the masculine persuasion.

But she was far beyond being deterred by a mere detail of that description.
"Are you going to Paddington ?" she asked breathlessly.
"Yes, I am," came the answer.

The speaker's voice had a slight, well-bred drawl in it, reminiscent of the public school.

"Can I do anything for you ?" "You can drive me there, if you will," she replied, with the bluntness of despair.

"My taxi's broken down." "But with pleasure." The man was out of his own cab in an instant, and held the door open while she paid her fare and ordered her luggage to be transferred.