orrow--"

"Stuff! Your carriage is not damaged. Here, my man, a half-napoleon
will more than pay."

The driver, well pleased with this accumulation of unlooked-for good
fortune, expressed himself contented. The gentleman stood, mopping the
blood from his forehead, while the two drivers set up the cabriolet
and continued to repair the broken harness. Glad of the delay, I too,
stood still in the rain saying nothing. My companion of the hour was
as silent.

At last the coachmen declared themselves ready to leave. Upon this,
the gentleman said to me: "You have denied, monsieur, that there was a
woman with you. It is my belief that she has escaped into the wood."

"I denied nothing," said I. "I invited you to look for yourself. The
wood is equally at your disposal. I regret--or, rather I do not
regret--to be unable to assist you."

Then, to my amazement, he said: "You, too, are in this affair, I
presume. You will find it serious."

"What affair? Monsieur is enigmatical and anything but courteous."

"You are insulting, and my friends will ask you to-morrow to explain
your conduct. I think you will further regret your connection with
this matter."

"With what matter?" I broke in. "This passes endurance."

"I fancy you need no explanation. I presume that at least you will not
hesitate to inform me of your name."

As he spoke his coachman called out to him to hold his horse for a
moment, and before I could answer, he turned aside toward the man. I
followed him, took out my card-case, and said as I gave him a card,
"This will sufficiently inform you who and what I am."

As I spoke he in turn gave me his card, saying: "I am the Count le
Moyne. I shall have the honor to ask through my friends for an
explanation."

He was evidently somewhat cooler. As he spoke I knew his name as that
of a recently appointed under-secretary of the Foreign Office. I had
never before seen him. As we parted I said:

"I shall be at home from eleven until noon to-morrow."

We lifted our hats, and the two carriages having been put in
condition, I drove away, with enough to think about and with some
wonder as to what had become of Alphonse.

IV

After a slow drive with a lame horse I reached my club, where I
attended to a small matter, and then, as the rain was over, walked to
my rooms. A bath and a change of garments left me free to consider the
adventure and its too probable results. What was meant by the affair?
It was reall