r into the
shade of some trees and might be vaguely detected coming nearer and
nearer.

"There he is!" whispered Denise Ryland, excitedly; "I told you he
couldn't... keep away. I know that kind of brute. There is nobody at
home, so listen: I will watch... from the drawing-room, and you... light
up here and move about... as if preparing to go out."

Helen, aware that she was flushed with excitement, fell in with the
proposal readily; and having switched on the lights in her room and
put on her hat so that her moving shadow was thrown upon the casement
curtain, she turned out the light again and ran to rejoin her
friend. She found the latter peering eagerly from the window of the
drawing-room.

"He thinks you are coming out!" gasped Denise. "He has slipped...
around the corner. He will pretend to be... passing... this way... the
cross-eyed... hypocrite. Do you feel capable ... of the task?"

"Quite," Helen declared, her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkling. "You
will follow us as arranged; for heaven's sake, don't lose us!"

"If the doctor knew of this," breathed Denise, "he would never...
forgive me. But no woman... no true woman... could refuse to
undertake... so palpable... a duty"...

Helen Cumberly, wearing a warm, golfing jersey over her dress, with
a woolen cap to match, ran lightly down the stairs and out into the
Square, carrying a letter. She walked along to the pillar-box, and
having examined the address upon the envelope with great care, by the
light of an adjacent lamp, posted the letter, turned--and there, radiant
and bowing, stood Mr. Gianapolis!

"Kismet is really most kind to me!" he cried. "My friend, who lives, as
I think I mentioned once before, in Peer's Chambers, evidently radiates
good luck. I last had the good fortune to meet you when on my way to
see him, and I now meet you again within five minutes of leaving him! My
dear Miss Cumberly, I trust you are quite well?"

"Quite," said Helen, holding out her hand. "I am awfully glad to see you
again, Mr. Gianapolis!"

He was distinctly encouraged by her tone. He bent forward
confidentially.

"The night is young," he said; and his smile was radiant. "May I hope
that your expedition does not terminate at this post-box?"

Helen glanced at him doubtfully, and then down at her jersey. Gianapolis
was unfeignedly delighted with her naivete.

"Surely you don't want to be seen with me in this extraordinary
costume!" she challenged.

"My dear