,
and chair and occupant, a burly man looking quite able to walk, went
whirling down the slope, charging into a couple of young men dressed
in killing style and wearing big yellow _boutonnieres_, and
overturning itself and all concerned.

They were gathering themselves up in much disorder, and I could not
resist a smile at the ludicrous scene; but the smile soon left my face
when I saw, passing the scene of distress with rapid steps and without
a glance toward it, and coming straight toward the entrance below, the
little brunette.

With rapid steps I crossed to the opposite window, and, taking off my
hat, bowed before the surprised and now somewhat haughty-looking
blonde.

'Miss Jenrys?' I said interrogatively.

She bowed assent.

'May I speak with you a moment?'

She did not answer promptly, and I put my hand to my pocket and drew
out my card--the same that I had proffered to the guard a few days
before.

She took it and read the name aloud, and in a tone of polite inquiry:

'Carl Masters?'

CHAPTER XI.

'I DISLIKE A MYSTERY.'

I had not meant to do it, but while I stood there with her clear brown
eyes, not repellent but fearless and full of dignity, fixed upon my
face in polite but guarded inquiry, the determination suddenly seized
me to be as frank and truthful in dealing with this frank and truthful
woman as I had a right to be.

I had meant to return the bag, ask her pardon for tampering with its
contents, and say no more; only keeping as much as possible an eye to
her welfare and safety if I saw it menaced. Now I meant something
more; and so, while she held my card in daintily gloved fingers and
looked at me with level, questioning eyes, I said, with the thought of
the approaching brunette underlying my words:

'Miss Jenrys, I am the person who was of some small assistance a few
days ago when you came near incurring serious injury at the hands of a
pair of Turks and a sedan-chair.' I saw a look of remembrance, if not
of recognition, flash into her face, and I hurried on. 'I do not
mention this as entitling me to your notice, but I ask you to accept
my word as that of one having no personal motive save the desire to
serve you, and to listen to me for a few moments.'

She was scanning my face nervously, and now she said:

'I do not recall your face, though I remember the circumstance to
which you refer. If you are the gentleman who held back that reckless
foreigner with a strong arm, an