bout it."

After lunch, Allen and Ella appeared together, ready for their
expedition. Ella looked her best in a big motoring coat and a
close-fitting hat, with a long blue veil. Allen was, for almost the
first time since his arrival, shaved, washed and tidy.

He looked indeed as respectable as his sinister and forbidding
countenance would permit, and though Deede Dawson had made him as smart
as possible, he had permitted him to gratify his own florid taste in
adornment, so that his air of prosperity and wealth had the appearance
of being that of some recently-enriched vulgarian whose association with
a motor-car and a well-dressed girl of Ella's type was probably due to
the fact that he had recently purchased them both out of newly-acquired
wealth.

Dunn wore a neat chauffeur's costume, with which, however, his bearded
face did not go too well. He felt indeed that their whole turn-out was
far too conspicuous considering the real nature of their errand, and
far too likely to attract attention, and he wondered if Deede Dawson's
subtle and calculating mind had not for some private reason desired that
to be so.

"He is keeping well in the background himself," Dunn mused. "He may
reckon that if things go wrong--in case of any pursuit--it's a good move
perhaps in a way, but he may find an unexpected check to his king opened
on him."

The drive was a long one, and Ella noticed that though Dunn consulted
his map frequently, he never appeared in any doubt concerning the way.

A little before three they drove into the village that lay round the
park gates of Wreste Abbey.

Motors were not allowed in the park, so Dunn put theirs in the garage
of the little hotel, that was already almost full, for visiting day at
Wreste Abbey generally drew a goodly number of tourists, while Ella
and Allen, in odd companionship, walked up to the Abbey by the famous
approach through the chestnut avenue.

Allen was quiet and surly, and much on his guard, and very uncomfortable
in Ella's company, and Ella herself, though for different reasons was
equally silent.

But the beauty of the walk through the chestnut avenue, and of the vista
with the great house at the end, drew from her a quick exclamation of
delight.

"How beautiful a place this is," she said aloud. "And how peaceful and
how quiet."

"Don't like these quiet places myself," grumbled Allen. "Don't like 'em,
don't trust 'em. Give me lots of traffic; when everything's so awful