51143    Half a guinea if you do it in twenty minutes!'

51144    'Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do well to follow them, when up the lane came a neat little landau, the coachman with his coat only half buttoned, and his tie under his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of the buckles.

51145    It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall door and into it.

51146    I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for.

51147    '"The Church of St. Monica, John," she cried, "and half a sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes."

51148    'This was quite too good to lose, Watson.

51149    I was just balancing whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her landau, when a cab came through the street.

51150    The driver looked twice at such a shabby fare; but I jumped in before he could object.

51151    "The Church of St. Monica," said I, "and half a sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes."

51152    It was twenty-five minutes to twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind.

51153    'My cabby drove fast.

51154    I don't think I ever drove faster, but the others were there before us.

51155    The cab and the landau with their steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived.

51156    I paid the man and hurried into the church.

51157    There was not a soul there save the two whom I had followed, and a surpliced clergyman, who seemed to be expostulating with them.