never an opportunity
should arise, and, as I was anxious to let her know that she was not
unprotected, it seemed to me that the first chance of doing so was better
than the second.

In an inner breast pocket of my coat I had the lace handkerchief which I
had stolen on the night of the ball. As Dick questioned Carmona, and
Carmona answered, I flashed out the wisp of lace and passed it across my
lips, not turning to look full at the slim, grey-coated figure on the
front seat, yet conscious by a side glance that a veiled face regarded us.

What I did was done so quickly, that I think it would have passed
unnoticed by the Duke; but Monica, taken completely by surprise, bent
suddenly forward; then, remembering the need for caution, hurriedly leaned
back against the cushions.

Carmona caught her nervous movement, saw how self-consciously, almost
rigidly, she sat when she had recovered herself, and, suspicion instantly
alert, turned a searchlight gaze on us.

The lace handkerchief had vanished. I was sitting indifferently, with arms
folded, my interest concentrated upon the busy chauffeur. Still I felt
there was no detail of my figure and motoring clothes that Carmona was not
noting as he explained to Dick the nature of his mishap.

"A simple puncture," he said. "And we have all necessary means to mend it,
thank you."

Dick and I lifted our caps to the ladies and went our way; but it was not
until we had passed the charming Renaissance house where Louis Quatorze
was born, that Waring made any comment on the incident.

"If that Moor-faced chap isn't on to the game, he's getting mighty 'warm,'
as the children say," he remarked dryly.

"He can't possibly be certain," said I. "Even if he saw my face, he
couldn't swear to identifying it, as the only sight he ever had of me was
in that asinine, yellow Romeo wig. Besides, Romeo had no moustache, and,
thanks to your advice, I have. It's the one thing that's conspicuous under
the goggles."

"A sort of 'coming event casting its shadow before.' I didn't say he
_knew_. I said he guessed. See here, while he's waiting for his tyre,
could we wire from this town to the frontier in time to have you stopped?"

"We ought to get there before any telegram he could send," said I,
hopefully. "However, there'll be a lot of formalities at the custom-house.
They might catch us before we finished. But, uncertain as he must be, it
would hardly be worth his while--"

"I wouldn't bet much on t