ombe half moved forward. She saw
him, and touched the driver's arm. His hand seemed to fly to the side of
the car, and his right foot was jammed down. With grinding of brakes and
the screaming of locked wheels, the car was brought to a standstill
within a few feet of him. He sprang eagerly forward. She was already
upon her feet in the road.

"Sir George," she said, "your warning, as you see, was barely in time.
We are adventurer and adventuress--detected. I suppose you are a
magistrate. Don't you think that you ought to detain us?"

"What can I do to help you?" he asked simply.

She looked at him eagerly. There were mud spots all up her gown, even
upon her face. Her hair was wildly disordered. She carried her hat in
her hand.

"You mean it?" she cried.

"You know that I do!"

She turned and looked up the road along which they had come. There was
no soul in sight. She looked even up at the long line of windows which
frowned down upon them from the back of the Hall. They, too, were
empty. She thrust a long envelope suddenly into his hand.

"Guard this for me," she whispered. "Don't let any one know that you
have it. Don't speak of it to any one. Keep it until I can send for it."

He thrust it into his inner pocket and buttoned his coat.

"It is quite safe," he said simply.

Her eyes flashed her gratitude upon him. For the first time he saw
something in her face--heard it in her tone, which made his heart beat.
After all she was human.

"You are very good to me," she murmured. "Believe me, I am not quite as
bad as I seem. Good-bye."

He turned with her towards the car, and she gave a low cry. He too
started. The car was a mile away, tearing up a hill, and almost out of
sight. In the lane behind they could hear the sound of galloping horses.
He caught her by the wrist, dragged her through the gate, and behind a
great shrub on the lawn.

"Stay there!" he exclaimed hoarsely. "Don't move. I will come back."

Half a dozen horsemen were coming along the lane at steeplechase pace.
Lord Runton, on his wonderful black horse, which no man before had ever
seen him gallop save across the softest of country, pulled up outside
the gate.

"Seen a motor go by, Duncombe?" he called out.

Duncombe nodded.

"Rather!" he answered. "Fielding and Miss Fielding in it. Going like
Hell!"

Runton waved his companions on, and leaned down to Duncombe.

"Beastly unpleasant thing happened, Duncombe," he said. "Fielding and
his