ind a good hotel, practically in the
forest; and he had an acquaintance who owned a chateau near by, a very
important sort of chap, who knew everybody worth knowing in French
society. If the Governor and "Lady T." liked, he would go dig his friend
up, and bring him round to call. Maybe they'd all be invited to the
chateau for dinner. The man had a lot of motors and would send one for
them, very likely--perhaps would even lend a car to take them on to
Paris to-morrow morning.

I listened to these arguments and suggestions with a creepy feeling in
the roots of my hair, for I, too, have an "acquaintance" who owns a
chateau near Fontainebleau: a certain Monsieur Charretier. He, also, has
a "lot of motors" and would, I knew, if he were "in residence" be
delighted to lend a car and extend an invitation to dinner, if informed
that Lys d'Angely was of the party. Could it be, I thought, that Mr.
Stokes was acquainted with Monsieur Charretier, or that, not being
acquainted, he had heard something from the Duchesse de Melun, and was
making a little experiment with me?

Perhaps I imagined it, but it seemed that he glanced my way
triumphantly, when Lady Turnour agreed to stay in the hope of meeting
the nameless, but important, friend; and I felt that, whatever
happened, I must have a word of advice from Jack.

The discussion had taken place in the road, or rather, at the side of
the road, where the combined exertions of Jack and Bertie had pushed the
wounded Aigle. The chauffeur, having examined the car and pronounced her
helpless, walked back to interview a carter we had passed not long
before, with the view of procuring a tow. Now, just as the discussion
was decided in favour of stopping over night at Fontainebleau, he
appeared again, in the cart.

We were so near the hotel in the woods that we could be towed there in
half an hour, and, ignominious as the situation was, Lady Turnour
preferred it to the greater evil of walking. I remained in the car with
her, the chauffeur steered, the carter towed, and Sir Samuel and his
stepson started on in advance, on foot.

At the hotel Jack was to leave us, and be towed to a garage; but, in
desperation, I murmured an appeal as he gave me an armful of rugs. "I
_must_ ask you about something," I whispered. "Can you come back in a
little less than an hour, and look for me in the woods, somewhere just
out of sight of the hotel?"

"Yes," he said. "I can and will. You may depend on me."

T