of glass
last night, and perhaps I hadn't; but I do believe it was that porter's
foolish remark about "votes for women" which put me off more than
anything else. So I drew back a step and answered her with more
respect than ever.

"I'll see that nobody insults you while I am your servant, madame. If
I may make a suggestion, I would advise you to leave this town."

She looked at me thoughtfully.

"And where should I go, Britten?"

"Back to Paris, madame--they won't interfere with you there."

"But my husband--my dear husband?"

I shrugged my shoulders.

"Perhaps Mahomet will come to the--er--em--to you, madame."

It was her turn to laugh; but I soon learned that my suggestion was no
good to her, and for a very simple reason.

"Ah," she said, "men are strange creatures, Britten. When we will,
they will not; and when we will not, why, then they give us jewellery.
I can't go back to Paris. If I do, a police officer goes with me."

"Take him on the box and call him a footman--unless you prefer to make
for London right away, madame."

She was emphatic about this.

"I can't, Britten! I must stay in Paris. It is my last chance of
seeing Count Joseph before he returns to Vienna for the summer. Oh, is
there no way? Is it quite impossible?"

I scratched my head. Something had been inside it for some minutes.

"Would you care to sit on the box beside me, madame?"

She was all ears at this.

"Of course I wouldn't mind. Have I not myself driven a car? Count
Mendez taught me at Cannes last year."

"Could you drive this car a little way on the road to Italy?"

"Why, certainly I could. But how would that help us?"

"Supposing," said I, "that you didn't mind my old mackintosh, madame.
I've got that, and a leather cap I keep for the cold weather. If you
would put them on and sit beside me, I think we might do it. You can
drive if there's any necessity to do so."

She clapped her hands so loud that I thought they would hear us on the
Promenade des Anglais below.

"I'll do it, Britten--as I'm a living woman I'll do it. Go and bring
your clothes. We may not have an hour to spare. I'll cheat them yet,
Britten. Oh, you clever man--you clever man to have thought of it."

"We might start at dusk, madame. Pay your bill, and give it out that
we are going into Italy this afternoon. You needn't come back. I'll
find you a private room next door to the garage, where you can change,
and we can set off ju