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at a decent； respectable time； unlocked and unbolted the door； and ran
out。
He ran hard for a quarter of a mile； and at the end of that distance it
began to be borne in upon him as a strange and curious thing that there
were so few people about； and that there were no shops open。 It was
certainly a very dark and foggy morning； but still it seemed an unusual
course to stop all business on that account。 HE had to go to business：
why should other people stop in bed merely because it was dark and foggy！
At length he reached Holborn。 Not a shutter was down！ not a bus was
about！ There were three men in sight； one of whom was a policeman； a
market…cart full of cabbages； and a dilapidated looking cab。 George
pulled out his watch and looked at it： it was five minutes to nine！ He
stood still and counted his pulse。 He stooped down and felt his legs。
Then； with his watch still in his hand； he went up to the policeman； and
asked him if he knew what the time was。
〃What's the time？〃 said the man； eyeing George up and down with evident
suspicion； 〃why； if you listen you will hear it strike。〃
George listened； and a neighbouring clock immediately obliged。
〃But it's only gone three！〃 said George in an injured tone； when it had
finished。
〃Well； and how many did you want it to go？〃 replied the constable。
〃Why； nine；〃 said George； showing his watch。
〃Do you know where you live？〃 said the guardian of public order；
severely。
George thought； and gave the address。
〃Oh！ that's where it is； is it？〃 replied the man； 〃well； you take my
advice and go there quietly； and take that watch of yours with you； and
don't let's have any more of it。〃
And George went home again； musing as he walked along； and let himself
in。
At first； when he got in； he determined to undress and go to bed again；
but when he thought of the redressing and re…washing； and the having of
another bath； he determined he would not； but would sit up and go to
sleep in the easy…chair。
But he could not get to sleep： he never felt more wakeful in his life； so
he lit the lamp and got out the chess…board； and played himself a game of
chess。 But even that did not enliven him： it seemed slow somehow； so he
gave chess up and tried to read。 He did not seem able to take any sort
of interest in reading either； so he put on his coat again and went out
for a walk。
It was horribly lonesome and dismal； and all the policemen he met
regarded him with undisguised suspicion； and turned their lanterns on him
and followed him about； and this had such an effect upon him at last that
he began to feel as if he really had done something； and he got to
slinking down the by…streets and hiding in dark doorways when he heard
the regulation flip…flop approaching。
Of course； this conduct made the force only more distrustful of him than
ever； and they would come and rout him out and ask him what he was doing
there； and when he answered； 〃Nothing；〃 he had merely come out for a
stroll （it was then four o'clock in the morning）； they looked as though
they did not believe him； and two plain…clothes constables came home with
him to see if he really did live where he had said he did。 They saw him
go in with his key； and then they took up a position opposite and watched
the house。
He thought he would light the fire when he got inside； and make himself
some breakfast； just to pass away the time； but he did not seem able to
handle anything from a scuttleful of coals to a teaspoon without dropping
it or falling over it； and making such a noise that he was in mortal fear
that it would wake Mrs。 G。 up； and that she would think it was burglars
and open the window and call 〃Police！〃 and then these two detectives
would rush in and handcuff him； and march him off to the police…court。
He was in a morbidly nervous state by this time； and he pictured the
trial； and his trying to explain the circumstances to the jury； and
nobody believing him； and his being sentenced to twenty years' penal
servitude； and his mother dying of a broken heart。 So he gave up trying
to get breakfast； and wrapped himself up in his overcoat and sat in the
easy…chair till Mrs。 G came down at half…past seven。
He said he had never got up too early since that morning： it had been
such a warning to him。
We had been sitting huddled up in our rugs while George had been telling
me this true story； and on his finishing it I set to work to wake up
Harris with a scull。 The third prod did it： and he turned over on the
other side； and said he would be down in a minute； and that he would have
his lace…up boots。 We soon let him know where he was； however； by the
aid of the hitcher； and he sat up suddenly； sending Montmorency； who had
been sleeping the sleep of the just right on the middle of his chest；
sprawling across the boat。
Then we pulled up the canvas； and all four of us poked our heads out over
the off…side； and looked down at the water and shivered。 The idea；
overnight； had been that we should get up early in the morning； fling off
our rugs and shawls； and； throwing back the canvas； spring into the river
with a joyous shout； and revel in a long delicious swim。 Somehow； now
the morning had come； the notion seemed less tempting。 The water looked
damp and chilly： the wind felt cold。
〃Well； who's going to be first in？〃 said Harris at last。
There was no rush for precedence。 George settled the matter so far as he
was concerned by retiring into the boat and pulling on his socks。
Montmorency gave vent to an involuntary howl； as if merely thinking of
the thing had given him the horrors； and Harris said it would be so
difficult to get into the boat again； and went back and sorted out his
trousers。
I did not altogether like to give in； though I did not relish the plunge。
There might be snags about； or weeds； I thought。 I meant to compromise
matters by going down to the edge and just throwing the water over
myself； so I took a towel and crept out on the bank and wormed my way
along on to the branch of a tree that dipped down into the water。
It was bitterly cold。 The wind cut like a knife。 I thought I would not
throw the water over myself after all。 I would go back into the boat and
dress； and I turned to do so； and； as I turned； the silly branch gave
way； and I and the towel went in together with a tremendous splash； and I
was out mid…stream with a gallon of Thames water inside me before I knew
what had happened。
〃By Jove！ old J。's gone in；〃 I heard Harris say； as I came blowing to the
surface。 〃I didn't think he'd have the pluck to do it。 Did you？〃
〃Is it all right？〃 sung out George。
〃Lovely；〃 I spluttered back。 〃You are duffers not to come in。 I
wouldn't have missed this for worlds。 Why won't you try it？ It only
wants a little determination。〃
But I coul