town. Then, after we had got clear of the hotel, he said--

"Stop at the station; we have to pick up Blythe."

Directed by him, we were soon at the spot where Sir Charles awaited us.

"I've got it!" he exclaimed in a low voice as he took out a big coat,
motor-cap, and goggles. "Quick work, wasn't it?"

"Excellent!" declared the Count, and then, bending to me, he added,
"Round there to the left. The high road is a little farther on--to
Marseilles!"

"To Marseilles?" I echoed, surprised that we were going so far as a
hundred odd miles, but at that moment I saw the wide highway and turned
into it, and with our big search-lights throwing a white radiance on
the road, I set the car westward through St. Raphael and Les Arcs.
It commenced to rain, with a biting wind, and turned out a very
disagreeable night; but, urged on by both men, I went forward at as
quick a pace as I dared go on that road, over which I had never
before travelled.

At Toulon we pulled up for a drink--for by that time we were all three
chilled to the bone, notwithstanding our heavy leather-lined coats. Then
we set out again for Marseilles, which we reached just after one o'clock
in the morning, drawing up at the Louvre et Paix, which every visitor to
the capital of Southern France knows so well. Here we had a good hearty
meal of cold meat and bock. Prior, however, to entering Marseilles, we
had halted, changed our identification-plate, and made certain
alterations, in order more thoroughly to disguise the car.

After supper we all got in again, and Bindo directed me up and down
several long streets until we were once more in the suburbs. In a quiet,
unfrequented road we pulled up, where from beneath the dark shadow of a
wall a man silently approached us.

I could not distinguish his face in the darkness, but from his voice I
knew it was none other than Henderson, the servant from Kingsworthy.

"Wait here for half an hour. Then run the car back to that church I
pointed out to you as we came along. The one at the top of the
Cannebiere. Wait for us there. We shall be perhaps an hour, perhaps a
little more," said the Count, taking a stick from the car, and then the
trio disappeared into the darkness.

Fully an hour elapsed, until at length, along in the shadow the three
crept cautiously, each bearing a heavy bundle, wrapped in black cloth,
which they deposited in the car. The contents of the bundles chinked as
they were placed upon the floor. What t