Chelsea, and besides I've got between three
and four hundred a year," replied Little.

"H'm," said Bindle, "may keep 'er in scent an' shoe-strings. I suppose
you're set on doin' it?"

"Absolutely."

"Well, I'll 'elp yer; but it's a pity, it's always a pity when a nice
chap like you gets balmy on a bit o' skirt."

"Right-oh!" said Little. "I knew you would."

A week later Bindle, wearing what he called his "uniform," met Dick
Little by appointment outside Lady Knob-Kerrick's house on Putney Hill.
Miss Kerrick had arranged to be ready at 9.30. Dick Little had
borrowed, through his brother, Guggers' Rolls-Royce, which, according
to the owner, would "gug-gug-go anywhere and do anything."

Guggers volunteered to drive himself. At 9.30 the car slid silently
down the road at the side of Lady Knob-Kerrick's house. It was a dark
night and the lights were hooded. Under the shade of a huge elm, and
drawn close up against the house, no one could distinguish the car from
the surrounding shadow.

A short ladder was placed in the tonneau and reared up against the
wall. Bindle and Little both mounted the wall and waited what to
Little seemed hours. It was nearly ten o'clock before a slight sound
on the gravel announced the approach of someone. A subdued whistle
from Dick Little produced a tremulous answer. Not a word was spoken.
Presently a scraping against the wall announced the placing of the
ladder from inside the garden, and a moment later a voice whispered:

"Is that you, Dick?"

"Yes, Ettie," was the reply. "Quick. I've got a friend here."

"It's all right, miss," whispered Bindle; "I'll catch hold of one arm
and Mr. Little will do ditto with the other, and 'fore you can wink
you'll be over. You ain't the screamin' sort, are yer?" he enquired
anxiously.

A little laugh answered him.

"Now then, look slippy, in case the old gal--sorry, miss, yer
mother--smells a rat."

It was a hot, soundless night. The atmosphere hung round them like a
heavy garment saturated with moisture. Every sound seemed to be
magnified. As he finished speaking, Bindle's quick ear detected a
footstep inside the garden. Bending down he whispered to Guggers:

"Start the car, sir, there's someone comin'. Come along, miss," he
added.

"Ethel!" Three hearts gave a great leap at the sound of a harsh,
uncompromising voice from almost beneath them.

"Ethel, where are you? You will catch your death of cold walking about
the g