her the watch, and put her in possession
of all the deductions and details I had been able to pick up. This once
done, Brown's exposure by Lady Brighthelmston and subsequent dismissal
by Molly would be only a question of hours.

Unfortunately, however, Lady Brighthelmston had left Cannes for Rome
when we arrived; nevertheless, one more proof of the _chauffeur's_
duplicity came into my hands there. A letter which had been left in the
rack for the Honourable John Winston, by his mother, was secretly _taken
out by Brown_. And the fact that Lady Brighthelmston was expecting her
son to join her on his automobile does not look as if poor Jack were in
England and had voluntarily left his car with the _chauffeur_.

Altogether the affair appears ominous for my friend, and the thought
that Molly and Miss Kedison are perpetually at the mercy of this
unscrupulous wretch, in a strange country, is maddening to me as it will
be to you when you receive this letter. When they left the Riviera for
Italy, I was obliged to remain behind for a day with a sick friend, but
followed as soon as possible on my Panhard. Owing, however, to
unforeseen events and one or two small accidents, I was delayed, and
unable to catch them up as I had intended. Finally, as Brown was
probably hurrying on with the express intention of making it impossible
for me to overtake the party, I determined to abandon my car and proceed
by rail to Rome, their destination. My idea was to reach that city
before they could do so, and see Lady Brighthelmston as I had planned to
do at Cannes, so that the police could be ready if necessary to arrest
Brown immediately on his arrival. I arrived on the day expected and
called at the hotel to which Lady Brighthelmston's letters were to be
forwarded from Cannes. But on account of the unusual cold and bad
weather, she had suffered from neuralgia, and had gone on with her
friends, after less than a week's stay, to Naples, with the idea that
she might visit Sicily later.

Having gone so far, I am not to be turned back. I love Molly far too
well to desert her, and some day, when she finds out all I have done for
her sake, perhaps she will appreciate me better than she has up to the
present. I cannot tell her myself, but it may be that you will think fit
to let her know. I mean to follow Lady Brighthelmston to Naples, or even
farther if it be necessary, for writing the information I have to give
might do more harm than good to everyo