mandy or Brittany, and so get away. That, at
any rate, was my ruling idea.

I sent off Cothope with a dummy note to Woking, because I did not want
to implicate him, and took my uncle to the pavilion. I went down to my
aunt, and made a clean breast of the situation. She became admirably
competent. We went into his dressing-room and ruthlessly broke his
locks. I got a pair of brown boots, a tweed suit and a cap of his,
and indeed a plausible walking outfit, and a little game bag for his
pedestrian gear; and, in addition, a big motoring overcoat and a supply
of rugs to add to those I had at the pavilion. I also got a flask
of brandy, and she made sandwiches. I don't remember any servants
appearing, and I forget where she got those sandwiches. Meanwhile we
talked. Afterwards I thought with what a sure confidence we talked to
each other.

"What's he done?" she said.

"D'you mind knowing?"

"No conscience left, thank God!"

"I think--forgery!"

There was just a little pause. "Can you carry this bundle?" she asked.

I lifted it.

"No woman ever has respected the law--ever," she said. "It's too
silly.... The things it lets you do! And then pulls you up--like a mad
nurse minding a child."

She carried some rugs for me through the shrubbery in the darkling.

"They'll think we're going mooning," she said, jerking her head at the
household. "I wonder what they make of us--criminals." ... An immense
droning note came as if in answer to that. It startled us both for a
moment. "The dears!" she said. "It's the gong for dinner!... But I wish
I could help little Teddy, George. It's awful to think of him there with
hot eyes, red and dry. And I know--the sight of me makes him feel sore.
Things I said, George. If I could have seen, I'd have let him have an
omnibusful of Scrymgeours. I cut him up. He'd never thought I meant it
before.... I'll help all I can, anyhow."

I turned at something in her voice, and got a moon light gleam of tears
upon her face.

"Could SHE have helped?" she asked abruptly.

"SHE?"

"That woman."

"My God!" I cried, "HELPED! Those--things don't help!"

"Tell me again what I ought to do," she said after a silence.

I went over the plans I had made for communicating, and the things I
thought she might do. I had given her the address of a solicitor she
might put some trust in.

"But you must act for yourself," I insisted.

"Roughly," I said, "it's a scramble. You must get what you can for us,