talked soothingly, and she was pacified. When alone she
wondered what he was about. She thought the proprietor of the hotel
and others regarded him with suspicion; it made her uneasy; she began
to consider what Abel Head and others had said about him at Little
Trent.

Already Zeppelin raids had been made on the coast, also S.E. counties,
but Jane paid little heed to them. She looked at the pictures but they
gave little information.

Carl came back very late, or rather early in the morning; she had gone
to bed in a depressed state. What kept him out until this hour? It
was three o'clock when he came into the room. She sat up in bed, the
light was burning, and looked at him half frightened.

"I thought you were never coming," she said. "Where have you been?"

He locked the door, then sank into a chair exhausted.

"I'm tired out," he said.

"Where have you been?" she asked again.

"I went to ----; the car broke down; I had to have it repaired. It's
all right now; I'll take you out to-morrow, Jane," he said.

This pacified her, but as she looked at him she fancied she detected
signs of fear in his face; there was a furtive, hunted look about him.
There was startling news in the papers next morning. A Zeppelin raid
on the Norfolk coast was reported. Several people were killed and
injured.

There was much excitement in the hotel; nothing else was talked about,
and Carl Meason was regarded with curiosity. It was known he had been
out in his motor until the early hours of the morning--perhaps he had
seen the Zeppelins.

Questions were put to him. He replied that he saw nothing of them; his
car broke down and it was a long time before he got it repaired. He
was miles away in a lonely part of the country when it happened;
fortunately he knew all about cars and the works; it was a great
advantage to put your car right when it went wrong. He spoke freely,
courting questions, made comments on the raid. He had recovered his
self-possession during the few hours' rest and was willing to meet all
comers.

Jane was packing in her room when he went downstairs; he told her they
would leave in the afternoon. After all it was a dull place for her
and another part of the country would suit her best, or would she
prefer to go to London for a few days?

She said she would love to see London, she had never been there; it
must be a grand place.

He promised to consider it over and left her in the room.

Carl we