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But there was to be no remission of the strokes of fate。 As
he thus sat； taking breath in the shadow of the wall and
hopped about by sparrows； it chanced that his eye roved to
the fastening of the door； and what he saw plucked him to his
feet。 The thing locked with a spring； once the door was
closed； the bolt shut of itself； and without a key； there was
no means of entering from without。
He saw himself obliged to one of two distasteful and perilous
alternatives； either to shut the door altogether and set his
portmanteau out upon the wayside； a wonder to all beholders；
or to leave the door ajar； so that any thievish tramp or
holiday schoolboy might stray in and stumble on the grisly
secret。 To the last； as the least desperate； his mind
inclined； but he must first insure himself that he was
unobserved。 He peered out； and down the long road； it lay
dead empty。 He went to the corner of the by…road that comes
by way of Dean； there also not a passenger was stirring。
Plainly it was； now or never； the high tide of his affairs；
and he drew the door as close as he durst； slipped a pebble
in the chink； and made off downhill to find a cab。
Half…way down a gate opened； and a troop of Christmas
children sallied forth in the most cheerful humour； followed
more soberly by a smiling mother。
'And this is Christmas…day！' thought John； and could have
laughed aloud in tragic bitterness of heart。
CHAPTER VII … A TRAGI…COMEDY IN A CAB
In front of Donaldson's Hospital； John counted it good
fortune to perceive a cab a great way of； and by much
shouting and waving of his arm； to catch the notice of the
driver。 He counted it good fortune； for the time was long to
him till he should have done for ever with the Lodge； and the
further he must go to find a cab； the greater the chance that
the inevitable discovery had taken place； and that he should
return to find the garden full of angry neighbours。 Yet when
the vehicle drew up he was sensibly chagrined to recognise
the port…wine cabman of the night before。 'Here；' he could
not but reflect； 'here is another link in the Judicial
Error。'
The driver； on the other hand； was pleased to drop again upon
so liberal a fare； and as he was a man … the reader must
already have perceived … of easy； not to say familiar；
manners； he dropped at once into a vein of friendly talk；
commenting on the weather； on the sacred season； which struck
him chiefly in the light of a day of liberal gratuities； on
the chance which had reunited him to a pleasing customer； and
on the fact that John had been （as he was pleased to call it）
visibly 'on the randan' the night before。
'And ye look dreidful bad the…day； sir； I must say that；' he
continued。 'There's nothing like a dram for ye … if ye'll
take my advice of it； and bein' as it's Christmas； I'm no'
saying；' he added； with a fatherly smile； 'but what I would
join ye mysel'。'
John had listened with a sick heart。
'I'll give you a dram when we've got through；' said he；
affecting a sprightliness which sat on him most unhandsomely；
'and not a drop till then。 Business first； and pleasure
afterward。'
With this promise the jarvey was prevailed upon to clamber to
his place and drive； with hideous deliberation； to the door
of the Lodge。 There were no signs as yet of any public
emotion； only； two men stood not far off in talk； and their
presence； seen from afar； set John's pulses buzzing。 He
might have spared himself his fright； for the pair were lost
in some dispute of a theological complexion； and with
lengthened upper lip and enumerating fingers； pursued the
matter of their difference； and paid no heed to John。
But the cabman proved a thorn in the flesh。
Nothing would keep him on his perch； he must clamber down；
comment upon the pebble in the door （which he regarded as an
ingenious but unsafe device）； help John with the portmanteau；
and enliven matters with a flow of speech； and especially of
questions； which I thus condense：…
'He'll no' be here himsel'； will he？ No？ Well； he's an
eccentric man … a fair oddity … if ye ken the expression。
Great trouble with his tenants； they tell me。 I've driven
the fam'ly for years。 I drove a cab at his father's waddin'。
What'll your name be？ … I should ken your face。 Baigrey； ye
say？ There were Baigreys about Gilmerton； ye'll be one of
that lot？ Then this'll be a friend's portmantie； like？ Why？
Because the name upon it's Nucholson！ Oh； if ye're in a
hurry； that's another job。 Waverley Brig？ Are ye for away？'
So the friendly toper prated and questioned and kept John's
heart in a flutter。 But to this also； as to other evils
under the sun； there came a period； and the victim of
circumstances began at last to rumble toward the railway
terminus at Waverley Bridge。 During the transit； he sat with
raised glasses in the frosty chill and mouldy fetor of his
chariot； and glanced out sidelong on the holiday face of
things； the shuttered shops； and the crowds along the
pavement； much as the rider in the Tyburn cart may have
observed the concourse gathering to his execution。
At the station his spirits rose again； another stage of his
escape was fortunately ended … he began to spy blue water。
He called a railway porter； and bade him carry the
portmanteau to the cloak…room： not that he had any notion of
delay； flight； instant flight was his design； no matter
whither； but he had determined to dismiss the cabman ere he
named； or even chose； his destination； thus possibly balking
the Judicial Error of another link。 This was his cunning
aim； and now with one foot on the roadway； and one still on
the coach…step； he made haste to put the thing in practice；
and plunged his hand into his trousers pocket。
There was nothing there！
Oh yes； this time he was to blame。 He should have
remembered； and when he deserted his blood…stained
pantaloons； he should not have deserted along with them his
purse。 Make the most of his error； and then compare it with
the punishment！ Conceive his new position； for I lack words
to picture it； conceive him condemned to return to that
house； from the very thought of which his soul revolted； and
once more to expose himself to capture on the very scene of
the misdeed： conceive him linked to the mouldy cab and the
familiar cabman。 John cursed the cabman silently； and then
it occurred to him that he must stop the incarceration of his
portmanteau； that； at least； he must keep close at hand； and
he turned to recall the porter。 But his reflections； brief
as they had appeared； must have occupied him longer than he
supposed； and there was the man already returning with the
receipt。
Well； that was settled； he had lost his portmanteau also； for
the sixpence with which he had paid the Murrayfield Toll was
one that had strayed alone into his waistcoat pocket； and
unless he once more successful