t to explain that I am particularly anxious to see
Lord Medenham," he said more calmly. "I left London at eight o'clock
this morning, and it is most irritating to have missed him by a few
minutes. I only wish to be assured as to his whereabouts, and, of
course, I have no reason to believe that any sort of responsibility
for my son's movements rests with you."

"That's all right, my lord," said Simmonds. "Viscount Medenham was
very kind to me last Wednesday. I had a first-rate job, and was on
my way to the Savoy Hotel to take it up, when a van ran into me an'
smashed the transmission shaft. His lordship met me in Down Street,
an' offered to run my two ladies to Epsom an' along the south coast
for a day or two while I repaired damages. I was to turn up here--an'
here I am--but it suited his arrangements better to go on with the
tour, an' that is all there is to it. A bit of a joke, I call it."

"Yes, my lord, that's hit hexactly," put in Dale, with a nervous
eagerness that demanded the help of not less than two aspirates.

The Earl managed to restrain another outburst.

"Nothing to cavil at so far," he said with forced composure. "The
only point that remains is--where is Lord Medenham now?"

"Somewhere between here an' Gloucester, my lord," said Simmonds.

"Gloucester--that is not on the way to London!"

No reply; neither man was willing to bell the cat. Finding Simmonds a
tough customer, Fairholme tackled Dale.

"Come, come, this is rather absurd," he cried. "Fancy my son's
chauffeur jibbing at my questions! Once and for all, Dale, where
shall I find Lord Medenham to-night?"

There was no escape now. Dale had to blurt out the fatal word:

"Hereford!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, my lord. I'm goin' there with his lordship's portmanteaux."

The head of the Fitzroy clan turned to Simmonds again.

"Will you drive me to Gloucester?" he asked.

"No, my lord. I'm under contract to remain in Bristol five days."

"Very well. Stop in Bristol, and be d----d to you. Is there any reason
why you should not take me to pick up my son's belongings? Then Dale
and I can go to Hereford by train. Viscount Medenham is devilish
particular about his linen. If I stick to his shirts I shall meet him
sometime to-day, I suppose."

Simmonds sought Dale's counsel by an underlook, but that hapless
sportsman could offer no suggestion, so the other made the best of a
bad business.

"I'll do that, of course, my lord," he said with alacri