hey were
making idiots of themselves. As he seemed trustworthy, I gave him
Winter's address, with instructions to wire to him, telling him of my
predicament, and asking him to come to my assistance.

Necessarily I gave the instructions in the presence of the policemen,
and directly I had done so I could see that their cocksureness was
shaken. They became more polite in their attitude, and the sergeant took
the trouble to explain that he was acting under instructions, and had no
option but to insist upon my accompanying him to Watford.

Into Watford I went accordingly. I am not going to dwell in any detail
upon the incidents of the journey; I am naturally of a retiring
disposition, and every circumstance attending my progress was in the
nature of an outrage upon my diffidence. For instance, upon my departure
from the inn, the whole of the population from King's Langley, so far as
I could judge, had gathered about the door of the White Horse to give me
a send-off. The crowd was in no sense a hostile one. The majority of its
component parts, especially the more youthful units, seemed indeed to
view me with admiration not unmixed with envy. Only one yokel expressed
disbelief in my identity.

"Ee ain't no pirut," he declared with unconcealed disdain, as he spat
into the gutter. "Anybody can see he's only a toff."

I scarcely knew whether to be pleased with his conclusion or angry that
he should find my personal appearance so unimpressive; and before I
could make up my mind on the subject, I was seated in the trap provided
for us and driven away seated between the two constables.

Our entry into Watford was still more in the nature of a triumph. Long
before we reached the county police office I was wild enough, at being
made such an exhibition of, to have given ten years of my life for the
chance of punching the head of any one of the throng of gaping
onlookers. Then, as a culminating blow to my pride, who should we meet
at a point in the High Street where it was impossible to avoid
recognition, but my rival Mannering in his trumpery old motor-car,
accompanied by--above all persons in the world, the one I least desired
to see--Miss Maitland.

I ground my teeth with rage, and as I alighted and followed the sergeant
into the police station, I wished that I were the Motor Pirate in
reality.

When I reached the presence of the officer in charge of the station I
just managed to control my temper, though I fancy there must