conds later we were
tearing along the broad road out of Stilton village at a pace that might
have cost me a five-pound fine.

What was the forthcoming "sensation"? Why was she flying from the two
strangers?

She feared we might be followed, therefore I decided to drive her to
Peterborough. We tore on through the biting wind and driving rain, past
Water Newton and Orton, until we drew up at the Great Northern Station
at Peterborough, where she descended, and for a moment held my hand in
a warm grasp of heartfelt thankfulness.

"You must thank this gentleman," she said to the lad. "Recollect that
to-night he has saved your life. They meant to kill you."

"Thank you, sir," said the little lad simply, holding out his hand.

When they had gone I remounted and drove away to Barnack, utterly
dumbfounded. The fair stranger, whoever she was, held me in fascination.
Never in all my life had I met a woman possessed of such perfect grace
and such exquisite charm. She had fled from her enemies. What startling
event had occurred that evening to cause her and the lad to take to the
road so ill-prepared?

What was the "sensation" which she had prophesied on the morrow? I
longed for day to dawn, when I might learn the truth.

Yet though I chatted with the grooms and other outdoor servants at
Barnack during the next day, I heard nothing.

Over the dinner-table that evening, however, old Colonel Cooper, who had
driven over from Polebrook, near Oundle, related to the guests a strange
story that he had heard earlier in the day.

"A mysterious affair has happened over at Buckworth, near the Great
North Road, they say," he exclaimed, adjusting his monocle and
addressing his hostess and Bindo, who sat on her right. "It seems that a
house called 'The Cedars,' about a mile out of the village, has been
rented furnished by some foreigners, a man named Latour and his wife
and son, whose movements were rather suspicious. Yesterday they received
three visitors, who came to spend a week; but just before dinner one of
the servants, on entering the drawing-room, was horrified to find both
her master and mistress lying upon the floor dead, strangled by the
silken cords used to loop up the curtains, while the visitors and the
little boy were missing. So swiftly and quietly was it all done," he
added, "that the servants heard nothing. The three visitors are
described as very gentlemanly-looking men, evidently Frenchmen, who
appeared to be on mos