.'

"'Sart'in sure,' says I. 'He's the man that wus bein' toted in a
chair.'

"'Hush! I tell ye to fergit it,' says Preston.

"'I can fergit all but the fact that he behaved like a gentleman,' says
Jack.

"'I 'spose he were usin' his private brain,' says I."

This, with some slight changes in spelling, paragraphing and
punctuation, is the account which Solomon Binkus gave of the most
exciting adventure these two friends had met with.

Preston came to Jack and whispered: "The outcome is a great surprise to
the other side. Young Clarke is a dead shot. An injured officer of
the English army may cause unexpected embarrassment. But you have time
enough and no haste. You can take the post chaise and reach the ship
well ahead of her sailing."

"I am of a mind not to go with you," Jack said to Solomon. "When I go,
I shall take Margaret with me."

So it happened that Jack returned to London while Solomon waited for
the post chaise to Deal.

CHAPTER X

THE LADY OF THE HIDDEN FACE

Next morning at ten, the door boy at his lodgings informed Jack that a
lady was waiting to see him in the parlor. The lady was deeply veiled.
She did not speak, but arose as he entered the room and handed him a
note. She was tall and erect with a fine carriage. Her silence was
impressive, her costume admirable.

The note in a script unfamiliar to the young man was as follows:

"You will find Margaret waiting in a coach at eleven to-day at the
corner of Harley Street and Twickenham Road."

The veiled lady walked to the door and turned and stood looking at him.

Her attitude said clearly: "Well, what is your answer ?"

"I will be there at eleven," said the young man. The veiled lady
nodded, as if to indicate that her mission was ended, and withdrew.

Jack was thrilled by the information but wondered why it was so wrapped
in mystery. Not ten minutes had passed after the departure of the
veiled lady when a messenger came with a note from Sir Benjamin Hare.
In a cordial tone, it invited Jack to breakfast at the Almack Club at
twelve-thirty. The young man returned his acceptance by the same
messenger, and in his best morning suit went to meet Margaret. A cab
conveyed him to the corner named. There was the coach with shades
drawn low, waiting. A footman stood near it. The door was opened and
he saw Margaret looking out at him and shaking her hand.

"You see what a sly thing I am!" she said when, the greetings over,