A Damsel in Distress

"The strong, silent man. That's me. What is it?"

"You're driving into town in your car this afternoon, aren't you,

to meet Percy?"

"That was the idea."

"Could you go this morning instead--and take me?"

"Of course."

Maud shook her head.

"You don't know what you are letting yourself in for, Reggie, or

I'm sure you wouldn't agree so lightly. I'm not allowed to leave

the castle, you know, because of what I was telling you about."

"The chappie?"

"Yes. So there would be terrible scenes if anybody found out."

"Never mind, dear old soul. I'll risk it. None shall learn your

secret from these lips."

"You're a darling, Reggie."

"But what's the idea? Why do you want to go today particularly?"

Maud looked over her shoulder.

"Because--" She lowered her voice, though there was no one near.

"Because he is back in London! He's a sort of secretary, you know,

Reggie, to his uncle, and I saw in the paper this morning that the

uncle returned yesterday after a long voyage in his yacht. So--he

must have come back, too. He has to go everywhere his uncle goes."

"And everywhere the uncle went, the chappie was sure to go!"

murmured Reggie. "Sorry. Didn't mean to interrupt."

"I must see him. I haven't seen him since last summer--nearly a

whole year! And he hasn't written to me, and I haven't dared to

write to him, for fear of the letter going wrong. So, you see, I

must go. Today's my only chance. Aunt Caroline has gone away.

Father will be busy in the garden, and won't notice whether I'm

here or not. And, besides, tomorrow it will be too late, because

Percy will be here. He was more furious about the thing than

anyone."

"Rather the proud aristocrat, Percy," agreed Reggie. "I understand

absolutely. Tell me just what you want me to do."

"I want you to pick me up in the car about half a mile down the

road. You can drop me somewhere in Piccadilly. That will be near

enough to where I want to go. But the most important thing is about

Percy. You must persuade him to stay and dine in town and come back

here after dinner. Then I shall be able to get back by an afternoon

train, and no one will know I've been gone."

"That's simple enough, what? Consider it done. When do you want to

start?"

"At once."

"I'll toddle round to the garage and fetch the car." Reggie

chuckled amusedly. "Rum thing! The mater's just been telling me I

ought to take you for a drive."

"You are a darling, Reggie, really!"