That of such was Lelia's cordial I have no doubt .sx Apart from the help it gave me that evening when I sat on the grass , I cannot forget how I did when I came up out of the race .sx So far from lying speechless , I had my wits about me and was able to make George free of my counsel without delay and then to get up and strip and rub myself down .sx These things no man could have done for sheer exhaustion , but for some agent to lift his system up .sx And the first thing I remember was Lelia's arm about me and her flask at my lips .sx The cool of the day was at hand , as we made our way back through the park .sx The sun was low and was shedding a golden light , the clear , sweet air was radiant , and the haze that had hung about the mountains had disappeared .sx All around , there was now a grandeur which had not been there at noon , and the peace upon the face of the landscape was rare and notable .sx Presently Lelia pointed away to the left .sx " There is the drive to Vardar .sx Do you see ?sx The road goes curling between those oaks .sx The house is half a mile distant from where we stand .sx " " Very good , " said I. " Now will you go off and leave me to get the car .sx Cross the drive where we see it and bear due west and do not turn north until you have gone a mile .sx " " Very well , " said Lelia obediently .sx I stood and watched her until she was over the road and out of my sight .sx Then I followed the line she had taken , crossed the drive to Vardar and bore north-west .sx Ten minutes later I sighted the western drive .sx . .sx The car was as we had left it , with one half of its bonnet open and one of its doors ajar .sx So much I saw by peeping , and , though the sight reassured me , I must confess that I dreaded taking possession and getting her out of the wood .sx For me the place was haunted .sx The spot belonged to Murder and all his dreadful train .sx Here was no peace , nor grandeur , but only a sinister silence , ready to usher havoc and , when the echoes had faded , to steal back into its seat .sx Grieg might or might not be there .sx But whether he was or was not I should not know till one of two things happened-the shocking roar of his pistol , or the flick of the road beneath me and the evening air upon my face .sx I took a deep breath and glided towards the bonnet with my heart in my mouth .sx .. For my purpose the wrong half was open , and I had , of course , to close it , before I could open its fellow and put back the contact-breaker which I had taken away .sx I closed it gingerly .sx Then I passed the front of the car , opened the other half and bent to my task .sx As I did so , a movement behind me made me leap almost out of my skin , but , though I swung about , trembling , the movement was not repeated and I could see or hear nothing which argued that Grieg was there .sx This was cold comfort , for the spinney was offering cover for fifty men , and , peering into its depths , I might have been trying to fathom the secret some arras hid .sx As I stood with my back to the engine , the thought came into my mind that Grieg was there in the shadows , but meant to hold his hand until I had made the adjustment we both required .sx .. No words can tell what it cost me to turn my back on the covert and bend again to my work , and I took twice as long about it as the trifling business deserved .sx When it was done I left the bonnet open , in the hope that if Grieg was there , he would think that I had not finished and let me be :sx then I turned the switch and set the spark and throttle and stepped to the front of the car .sx I dared not use the selfstarter because of the noise it made , but the engine started the first time I swung the shaft .sx Though I think it was fairly silent , it seemed to me to make an unearthly din , and I whipped to the steering-wheel with the sweat running down my face .sx For an instant I shrank from taking the driver's seat , for once I was there , I was trapped , and if Grieg rose out of the bushes , I had no chance .sx Still , to wait was futile , and a moment later I had my foot on the clutch .sx .. The gears were storming , and the car was rocking like a ship .sx .. behind me the door slammed to , and the clap took a week from my life .sx .. my hands were slipping on the wheel .sx .. and then I was out on the road , and the blessed sunshine was streaming into my eyes and a flood of soft , cool air was sliding over the windscreen and falling upon my face .sx .. So I recovered the car .sx I am not proud of the memory , but I have set out the truth , to show what a fool his nerves may make , of a man ; and I have no defence to offer except that the place was a covert and I have but two eyes .sx Now I was very anxious to quit the road I was using as soon .sx as I could , for Grieg might have telephoned to Vigil and told the police to call for him with their car , and I had no wish to meet them in such a way .sx But until I had taken up Lelia , I dared not go very fast , for I had no means of knowing where she would strike the road and I might have set her a longer walk than I thought .sx Indeed , as the moments went by , but I did not see her , I began to fear that I must have passed her by :sx then the drive bent round to the left , and there was her white and scarlet a furlong ahead .sx She was very much disappointed because I would not allow her to sit with me , but I would not hear her protests , and ushered her and her wolf-hound into the car .sx Then I let down the window behind the driver's seat , " for so , " said I , " I shall hear all you have to say :sx and you are to sit well back and on no account lean forward whatever befalls .sx If I should stop or be stopped , you are to crouch on the floor and stay quite still , and if the worst should happen , you must swear that you do not know me , but found the car standing empty and entered it out of mischief and then were afraid to alight .sx " Lelia crossed her ankles and threw me a dazzling smile .sx " Is this how her Highness sits ?sx Or does she crouch on the floor ?sx " " She does as I tell her , " I said .sx With that , I shut the door and hoped for the best .sx Then I put down the half of the bonnet which I had left raised , and a moment later we were flying along the road .sx Five minutes later we were clear of the Sabre estate .sx Now if I had used my wits , I should have known that Lelia , to whom roads meant nothing , would have to see about her if she was to tell me the way .sx Cooped in the car , she could not get her bearings , and four times I had to stop and let her run to some shoulder or even stand still in the roadway and look around .sx It was a sight to see her pick up her line in this way , for the country was blind as could be , but I think she could read the tokens which speak to the birds and beasts , for after a moment she would come back quite confident to say that we stood in some parish of which I had never heard .sx Once we ran through a village and we brushed against several farms , but the peasants we passed showed no undue excitement and only stared or cursed me , as peasants will .sx At last we dropped down a hill and into a sunken road that seemed familiar , and then in a moment I knew I was close to .sx Vardar and was taking the way I had taken when Rowley and I made for Gola the night before .sx The spot seeming lonely , I brought the car to rest .sx " Lelia , " I said , looking round , " I know that I am not to thank you , but you have done the trick .sx I used this road this morning , and I know where I am .sx Vardar lies over that ridge , a mile away .sx " " That is quite right , " says she ; " but you will not go through the town .sx " " Oh , no .sx I shall go very wide .sx I have plenty of time .sx But I must not take you further .sx As it is , you will not be home till long after dark .sx It must be six miles to Merring from where we stand .sx " With that , I alighted and opened the door of the car .sx The dog leaped out , delighted , but Lelia followed slowly , finger to lip .sx Before I could shut the door , she had set a hand on my arm .sx " Take me with you , " she said .sx " No , my dear , " said I. " It's not to be thought of .sx For one .sx thing only , this is a one-man show .sx " Lelia shrugged her shoulders and turned away .sx " I think it is a one-woman show .sx " " What do you mean ?sx " " That you do not want me to-night .sx That you do not want .sx me to see her .sx You think you will have to present me and that .sx I am not fit to - " .sx " Lelia , Lelia , how can you say such things ?sx When Leonie hears about you she will not rest till she has seen you and taken your hands in hers .sx " She was round in a flash , and her hands were upon my .sx shoulders , and her face three inches from mine .sx " Then take me with you , " she breathed .sx " Listen , " I lied .sx " I would not even take Rowley if he were .sx here .sx I am not going to fight ; I am going to stop my wife from .sx walking into a trap .sx Everything depends upon my not being .sx seen , and one can escape notice where two cannot .sx " Lelia glanced at the sky .sx " It will be a dark night , " she said .sx " So much the better , " said I. " And now you must go to .sx your home .sx Soon after dawn to-morrow I shall be back at the .sx mill .sx " " If you are alive , " said Lelia .sx " You cannot answer for that .sx What shall I do with myself if you do not come back ?sx " " You must go about your business , " said I. " Re-visit the mill , if you will , and when the Countess comes , do what you can for her .sx She is very troubled and I know she would like you with her - as anyone would .sx " " Except yourself , " said Lelia .sx " And what do you think I am made of that you tell me to go about my business if you do not come back ?sx I will bid you good-bye to-morrow and make up my mind that I never shall see you again .sx And I will not cry , I promise .sx But I am not ready to bid you good-bye to-day .sx " Why should you ?sx " said I. " If I do not come in the morning , be sure I shall come at dusk .sx " " Suppose you are taken , " says she , with her eyes upon mine .sx " Suppose it , " said I. " Then I will come when I am free .sx I am not ready , either , to bid you good-bye to-day .sx " " You will come , if her Highness can spare you .sx " " Leone and I are one , Lelia .sx " " Do you love her so very much ?sx " I nodded .sx " She is in my heart - I told you .sx " " But not in your eyes , " she breathed .sx " Not now .sx I am there .sx I can see myself .sx Why - why are you not ready to bid me goodbye to-day ?sx " " Because you are very charming .sx Because you have meant a great deal to me to-day .sx "