A Damsel in Distress

She had reached this conclusion when Albert, who had taken a short

cut the more rapidly to accomplish his errand, burst upon her

dramatically from the heart of a rhododendron thicket.

"M'lady! Gentleman give me this to give yer!"

Maud read the note. It was brief, and to the point.

"I am staying near the castle at a cottage they call 'the

one down by Platt's'. It is a rather new, red-brick place.

You can easily find it. I shall be waiting there if you want

me."

It was signed "The Man in the Cab".

"Do you know a cottage called 'the one down by Platt's', Albert?"

asked Maud.

"Yes, m'lady. It's down by Platt's farm. I see a chicken killed

there Wednesday week. Do you know, m'lady, after a chicken's 'ead

is cut orf, it goes running licketty-split?"

Maud shivered slightly. Albert's fresh young enthusiasms frequently

jarred upon her.

"I find a friend of mine is staying there. I want you to take a

note to him from me."

"Very good, m'lady."

"And, Albert--"

"Yes, m'lady?"

"Perhaps it would be as well if you said nothing about this to any

of your friends."

In Lord Marshmoreton's study a council of three was sitting in

debate. The subject under discussion was that other note which

George had written and so ill-advisedly entrusted to one whom he

had taken for a guileless gardener. The council consisted of Lord

Marshmoreton, looking rather shamefaced, his son Percy looking

swollen and serious, and Lady Caroline Byng, looking like a tragedy

queen.

"This," Lord Belpher was saying in a determined voice, "settles it.

From now on Maud must not be allowed out of our sight."

Lord Marshmoreton spoke.

"I rather wish," he said regretfully, "I hadn't spoken about the

note. I only mentioned it because I thought you might think it

amusing."

"Amusing!" Lady Caroline's voice shook the furniture.

"Amusing that the fellow should have handed me of all people a

letter for Maud," explained her brother. "I don't want to get Maud

into trouble."

"You are criminally weak," said Lady Caroline severely. "I really

honestly believe that you were capable of giving the note to that

poor, misguided girl, and saying nothing about it." She flushed.

"The insolence of the man, coming here and settling down at the

very gates of the castle! If it was anybody but this man Platt who

was giving him shelter I should insist on his being turned out. But

that man Platt would be only too glad to know that he is causing us

annoyance."

"Quite!" said Lord Belpher.

"You must go to this man as soon as possible," continued Lady

Caroline, fixing her brother with a commanding stare, "and do your

best to make him see how abominable his behaviour is."