next
station I shall see that you give a proper account of yourself. And here
we are, sir. I trust you have a more credible story in readiness."

As he spoke they drew up beside an underground platform, and the irascible
old gentleman, with a very threatening face that was not yet quite cleared
of alarm, bustled out in a prodigious hurry. Mr Bunker lay back in his
seat and replied with a smile, "I shall be delighted to tell any story
within the bounds of strict propriety."

But the moment he saw the irate director disappear in the crowd he whipped
out too, and with the least possible delay transferred himself into a
third-class carriage.

From his seat near the window he watched the old gentleman hurry back with
three officials at his heels, and hastily search each first-class
compartment in turn. The last one was so near him that he could hear his
friend say, "Damn it, the rascal has bolted in the crowd!" And with that
the four of them rushed off to the barrier to intercept or pursue this
suspicious character. Then the whistle blew, and as the train moved off Mr
Bunker remarked complacently, if a little mysteriously, to himself, "Well,
whoever I am, it would seem I'm rather difficult to catch."

CHAPTER IX.

Mr Bunker arrived at the Hotel Mayonaise in what, from his appearance, was
an unusually reflective state of mind for him. The other visitors, many of
whom had begun to regard him and his noble friend with great interest, saw
him pass through the crowd in the hall and about the lifts with a
thoughtful air. He went straight to the Baron's room. Outside the door he
paused for an instant to set his face in a cheerful smile, and then burst
gaily in upon his friend.

"Well, my dear Baron!" he cried, "what luck in the Park?"

The Baron was pulling his moustache over an English novel. He laid down
his book and frowned at Mr Bunker.

"I do not onderstand your English vays," he replied.

Mr Bunker perceived that something was very much amiss, nor was he without
a suspicion of the cause. He laughed, however, and asked, "What's the
matter, old man?"

"I vent to ze Park," said the Baron, with a solemn deliberation that
evidently came hardly to him. "I entered ze Park. I vas dressed, as you
know, viz taste and appropriety. I vas sober, as you know. I valked under
ze trees, and I looked agreeably at ze people. Goddam!"

"My dear Baron!" expostulated Mr Bunker.

The Baron resume