ard stare.

Toby's chin went up. She looked exclusively at Saltash. Her bearing at
that moment was that of a princess.

"The car is ready?" she questioned. "Shall we go?"

"By all means," said Saltash.

He nodded a careless farewell to the other man, and followed her, a smile
twitching at his lips, the gleam still in his eyes.

"That man is Spentoli the sculptor," he said, as he handed her into the
car. "A genius, Nonette! I should have presented him to you if you had
not been so haughty."

"I hate geniuses," said Toby briefly.

He laughed at her. "_Mais vraiment!_ How many have you known?"

She considered for a moment, and finally decided that the question did
not require an answer.

Saltash took the wheel and spun the little car round with considerable
dexterity. "Yes, a genius!" he said. "One of the most wonderful of the
age. His work is amazing--scarcely human. He paints too. All Paris raves
over his work--with reason. His picture, 'The Victim'--" he looked at her
suddenly--"What is the matter, _cherie_? Is the sun too strong for you?"

Toby's hand was shielding her eyes. Her lips were trembling. "Don't
wait!" she murmured. "Don't wait! Let's get away! I am all right--just a
little giddy, that's all."

He took her at her word, and sent the car swiftly forward. They passed
out into the crowded thoroughfare, and in a moment or two Toby leaned
back, gazing before her with a white, set face.

Saltash asked no question. He did not even look at her, concentrating all
his attention upon the task of extricating himself as swiftly as possible
from the crush of vehicles around them.

It was a day of perfect autumn, and Paris lay basking in sunshine; but
Saltash was a rapid traveller at all times, and it was not long before
Paris was left behind. But even when free from the traffic, he did not
speak or turn towards his companion, merely gave himself to the task
of covering the ground as quickly as possible.

In the end it was Toby who spoke, abruptly, boyishly. "By jingo! You can
drive!"

Saltash's face showed its own elastic grin. "You like this?"

"Rather!" said Toby with enthusiasm.

She threw off her silence and plunged forthwith into careless chatter--a
mood to which he responded with the utmost readiness. When at length they
ran into the shade of the forest, they were both in the highest spirits.

They had their tea in a mossy glade out of sight of the road. The sun was
beginning to slant. Its rays