But no one rose to the bait, so he had to put them back in his pocket on the chance of being able to "doctor up" the date and crush in with them some other day.

Then he mooned listlessly up and down the streets for an hour till his clothes were dry, and then turned into a public-house to get a brush down and while away another hour.
Still the vision of Reginald standing where he had last seen him with young Gedge at his side haunted him and spoiled his pleasure.

He wandered forth again, feeling quite lonely, and wishing some one or something would turn up to comfort him.

Nor was he disappointed.
"The very chap," said a voice suddenly at his side when he was beginning to despair of any diversion.
"So it is.

How are you, my man?
We were talking of you not two minutes ago." Durfy pulled up and found himself confronted by two gentlemen, one about forty and the other a fashionable young man of twenty-five.
"How are you, Mr Medlock ?" said he to the elder in as familiar a tone as he could assume; "glad to see you, sir.