He looked up and down in vain.

The man had not been paid and there seemed to be no reason for his departure.

A policeman who was standing by touched his hat and addressed him.
"Were you looking for that taxi you stepped out of a few minutes ago, sir ?" he asked.
"I was," Laverick answered.

"I hadn't paid him and I told him to wait." "I thought there was something queer about it," the policeman remarked.

"Soon after you had gone inside, two gentlemen drove up in a hansom.