. I want to
borrow her again, substitute her for Marion, and let her keep the
brutes quiet while I carry Marion off to a cottage I have bought in the
north of Scotland for just such an emergency as this."

The Honourable John Ruffin sprang to his feet with flashing eyes:

"What? Rob me of my bacon-griller again? The last time my breakfast
was spoilt for a fortnight. You don't know what you ask!" he cried in
tones in which indignation and horror were nicely blended.

"Oh, but this won't be for a fortnight--a couple of days at the
outside. Surely you could eat fish for breakfast for a couple of
mornings," pleaded the duchess.

"I never eat fish for breakfast," said the Honourable John Ruffin
coldly. "I am an Englishman and a patriot--eggs and bacon."

"But just for once," said the duchess.

The hard expression faded slowly from his face; he took a turn up and
down the room; then he said in a tone of infinite sadness:

"Well, well, I suppose I must sacrifice myself again. What a thing it
is to be a cousin! But how are you going to work it? Surely you're
being followed?"

"Rather," said the duchess cheerfully. "But I don't take Mary Bride
with me. I go back to Budleigh Salterton by the four forty-five from
Waterloo; and my follower will no doubt go with me. Eglantine and Mary
Bride will go down to Exeter by the six o'clock from Paddington, motor
over, and slip into the house late at night. There's sure to be some
one watching it; and once they believe Marion to be in it, they'll go
on watching it without bothering about me. I only want to be left
alone for six hours, and I'll get Marion away without leaving a trace."

"Strategist," said the Honourable John Ruffin in a tone of admiring
approval. "I hope you'll pull it off. You deserve to for having
thought it out so thoroughly. Fortunately, Pollyooly is due home at a
quarter of five, so there'll be no trouble there. She's the most
punctual person in the Temple."

"That's lucky," said the duchess with a sigh of thankfulness.

There was nothing more to be arranged; and if she were going to catch
her train comfortably, it was time that she started for Waterloo. He
escorted her to Fleet Street, put her into a taxicab, and bade her
good-bye.

The taxicab started; he turned to return to his rooms, stopped short,
and said sharply:

"Bother! I forgot to arrange about Pollyooly's salary!"

CHAPTER V

POLLYOOLY IS CALLED IN

On his way ba