s　he　had　passed　through　the　station　at　ten　miles　an　hour。　These　were　the　only　occasions；　however；　on　which　he　had　slackened　speed　at　all。　The　train　attendant；　who　was　a　nervous　man；　began　to　shiver　again　and　imagine　unmentionable　things。　The　guard；　who　had　never　left　his　own　brake；　went　home　and　dreamed　that　his　effigy　had　been　added　to　the　collection　of　Madame　Tussaud。　The　reporters　were　the　only　people　who　were　really　happy；　with　the　exception；　perhaps　of　Inspector　Jacks；　who　had　a　weakness　for　a　difficult　case。
  Fifteen　miles　north　of　London；　a　man　lay　by　the　roadside　in　the　shadow　of　a　plantation　of　pine　trees；　through　which　he　had　staggered　only　a　few　minutes　ago。　His　clothes　were　covered　with　dust；　he　had　lost　his　cap；　and　his　trousers　were　cut　about　the　knee　as　though　from　a　fall。　He　was　of　somewhat　less　than　medium　height；　dark；　slender；　with　delicate　features；　and　hair　almost　coal　black。　His　face；　as　he　moved　slowly　from　side　to　side　upon　the　grass；　was　livid　with　pain。　Every　now　and　then　he　raised　himself　and　listened。　The　long　belt　of　main　road；　which　passed　within　a　few　feet　of　him；　seemed　almost　deserted。　Once　a　cart　came　lumbering　by；　and　the　man　who　lay　there；　watching；　drew　closely　back　into　the　shadows。　A　youth　on　a　bicycle　passed；　singing　to　himself。　A　boy　and　girl　strolled　by；　arm　in　arm；　happy；　apparently；　in　their　profound　silence。　Only　a　couple　of　fields　away　shone　the　red　and　green　lights　of　the　railway　track。　Every　few　minutes　the　goods…trains　went　rumbling　over　the　metals。　The　man　on　the　ground　heard　them　with　a　shiver。　Resolutely　he　kept　his　face　turned　in　the　opposite　direction。　The　night　mail　went　thundering　northward；　and　he　clutched　even　at　the　nettles　which　grew　amongst　the　grass　where　he　was　crouching；　as　though　filled　with　a　sudden　terror。　Then　there　was　silence　once　moresilence　which　became　deeper　as　the　hour　approached　midnight。　Passers…by　were　fewer；　the　birds　and　animals　came　out　from　their　hiding　places。　A　rabbit　scurried　across　the　road；　a　rat　darted　down　the　tiny　stream。　Now　and　then　birds　moved　in　the　undergrowth；　and　the　man；　who　was　struggling　all　the　time　with　a　deadly　faintness；　felt　the　silence　grow　more　and　more　oppressive。　He　began　even　to　wonder　where　he　was。　He　closed　his　eyes。　Was　that　really　the　tinkling　of　a　guitar；　the　perfume　of　almond　and　cherry　blossom；　floating　to　him　down　the　warm　wind？　He　began　to　lose　himself　in　dreams　until　he　realized　that　actual　unconsciousness　was　close　upon　him。　Then　he　set　his　teeth　tight　and　clenched　his　hands。　Away　in　the　distance　a　faint；　long…expected　sound　came　travelling　to　his　ears。　At　last；　then；　his　long　wait　was　over。　Two　fiery　eyes　were　stealing　along　the　lonely　road。　The　throb　of　an　engine　was　plainly　audible。　He　staggered　up；　swaying　a　little　on　his　feet；　and　holding　out　his　hands。　The　motor　car　came　to　a　standstill　before　him；　and　the　man　who　was　driving　it　sprang　to　the　ground。　Words　passed　between　them　rapidly；questions　and　answers；the　questions　of　an　affectionate　servant；　and　the　answers　of　a　man　fighting　a　grim　battle　for　consciousness。　But　these　two　spoke　in　a　language　of　their　own；　a　language　which　no　one　who　passed　along　that　road　was　likely　to　understand。
  With　a　groan　of　relief　the　man　who　had　been　picked　up　sank　back　amongst　the　cushioned　seats；　carefully　almost　tenderly；　aided　by　the　chauffeur。　Eagerly　he　thrust　his　hand　into　one　of　the　leather　pockets　and　drew　out　a　flask　of　brandy。　The　rush　of　cold　air；　as　the　car　swung　round　and　started　off；　was　like　new　life　to　him。　He　closed　his　eyes。　When　he　opened　them　again；　they　had　come　to　a　standstill　underneath　a　red　lamp。
  〃The　doctor's！〃　he　muttered　to　himself；　and；　staggering　out；　rang　the　bell。
  Dr。　Spencer　Whiles　had　had　a　somewhat　dreary　day；　and　was　thoroughly　enjoying　a　late　rubber　of　bridge　with　three　of　his　most　agreeable　neighbors。　A　summons　into　the　consulting　room；　however；　was　so　unexpected　a　thing　that　he　did　not　hesitate　for　a　moment　to　obey　it；　without　even　waiting　to　complete　a　deal。　When　he　entered　the　apartment；　he　saw　a　slim　but　determined…looking　young　man；　whose　clothes　were　covered　with　dust；　and　who；　although　he　sat　with　folded　arms　and　grim　face；　was　very　nearly　in　a　state　of　collapse。
  〃You　seem　to　have　met　with　an　accident；〃　the　doctor　remarked。　〃How　did　it　happen？〃
  〃I　have　been　run　over　by　a　motor　car；〃　his　patient　said；　speaking　slowly　and　with　something　singularly　agreeable　in　his　voice　notwithstanding　its　slight　accent　of　pain。　〃Can　you　patch　me　up　till　I　get　to　London？〃
  The　doctor　looked　him　over。
  〃What　were　you　doing　in　the　road？〃　he　asked。
  〃I　was　riding　a　bicycle；〃　the　other　answered。　〃I　dare　say　it　was　my　own　fault；　I　was　certainly　on　the　wrong　side　of　the　road。　You　can　see　what　has　happened　to　me。　I　am　bruised　and　cut；　my　side　is　painful；　and　also　my　knee。　A　car　is　waiting　outside　now　to　take　me　to　my　home；　but　I　thought　that　I　had　better　stop　and　see　you。〃
  The　doctor　was　a　humane　man；　with　a　miserable　practice；　and　he　forgot　all　about　his　bridge　party。　For　half　an　hour　he　worked　over　his　patient。　At　the　end　of　that　time　he　gave　him　a　brandy　and　soda　and　placed　a　box　of　cigarettes　before　him。
  〃You'll　do　all　right　now；〃　he　said。　〃That's　a　nasty　cut　on　your　leg；　but　you've　no　broken　bones。〃
  〃I　feel　absolutely　well　again；　thank　you　very　much；〃　the　young　man　said。　〃I　will　smoke　a　cigarette；　if　I　may。　The　brandy；　I　thank　you；　no！〃
  〃Just　as　you　like；〃　the　doctor　answered。　〃I　won't　say　that　you　are　not　better　without　it。　Help　yourself　to　the　cigarettes。　Are　you　going　back　to　London　in　the　motor　car；　then？〃
  〃Yes！〃　the　patient　answered。　〃It　is　waiting　outside　for　me　now；　and　I　must　not　keep　the　man　any　longer。　Will　you　let　me　know；　if　you　please；　how　much　I　owe　you？〃
  The　doctor　hesitated。　Fees　were　a　rare　thing　with　him；　and　the　evidences　of　his　patient's　means　were　somewhat　doubtful。　The　young　man　put　his　hand　into　his　pocket。
  〃I　am　afraid；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　am　not　a　very　presentable…looking　object；　but　I　am　glad　to　assure　you　that　I　am　not　a　poor　man。　I　am　able　to　pay　your　charges　and　to　still　feel　that　the　obligation　is　very　much　on　my　side。
  The　doctor　summoned　up　his　courage。
  〃We　will　say　a　guinea；　then；〃he　remarked　with　studied　indifference。
  〃You　must　allow　me　to　make　it　a　little　more　than　that；〃　the　patient　answered。　〃Your　treatment　was　worth　is。　I　feel　perfectly　recovered　already。　Good　night；　sir！〃
  The　doctor's　eyes　sparkled　as　he　glanced　at　the　gold　which　his　visitor　had　laid　upon　the　table。
  〃You　are　very　good；　I'm　sure；〃　he　murmured。　〃I　hope　you　will　have　a　comfortable　journey。　With　a　nerve　like　yours；　you'll　be　all　right　in　a　day　or　so。〃
  He　let　his　patient　out　and　watched　him　depart　with　some　curiosity；　watched　until　the　great　motor…car　had　swung　round　the　corner　of　the　street　and　started　on　its　journey　to　London。
  〃No　bicycle　there；〃　he　remarked　to　himself；　as　he　closed　the　door。　〃I　wonder　what　they　did　with　it。〃
  CHAPTER　IV。　MISS　PENELOPE　MORSE
  It　was　already　a　little　past　the　customary　luncheon　hour　at　the　Carlton；　and　the　restaurant　was　well　filled。　The　orchestra　had　played　their　first　selection；　and　the　stream　of　incoming　guests　had　begun　to　slacken。　A　young　lady　who　had　been　sitting　in　the　palm　court　for　at　least　half　an　hour　rose　to　her　feet；　and；　glancing　casually　at　her　watch；　made　her　way　into　the　hotel。　She　entered　the　office　and　addressed　the　chief　reception　clerk。
  〃Can　you　tell　me；〃　she　asked；　〃if　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　is　staying　here？　He　should　have　arrived　by　the　Lusitania　last　night　or　early　this　morning。〃
  It　is　not　the　business　of　a　hotel　reception　clerk　to　appear　surprised　at　anything。　Nevertheless　the　man　looked　at　her；　for　a　moment；　with　a　curious　expression　in　his　eyes。
  〃Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes！〃　he　repeated。　〃Did　you　say　that　you　were　expecting　him　by　the　Lusitania；　madam？〃
  〃Yes！〃　the　young　lady　answered。　〃He　asked　me　to　lunch　with　him　here　today。　Can　you　tell　me　whether　he　has　arrived　yet？　If　he　is　in　his　room；　I　should　be　glad　if　you　would　send　up　to　him。〃
  There　were　several　people　in　the　office　who　were　in　a　position　to　overhear　their　conversation。　With　a　word　of　apology；　the　man　came　round　from　his　place　behind　the　mahogany　counter。　He　stood　by　the　side　of　the　young　lady；　and　he　seemed　to　be　suffering　from　some　embarrassment。
  〃Will　you　pardon　my　asking；　madam；　if　you　have　seen　the　newspapers　this　morning？〃　he　inquired。
  Without　a　doubt；　her　first　thought　was　that　the　question　savored　of　impertinence。　She　looked　at　him　with　slightly　upraised　eyebrows。　She　was　slim；　of　medium　complexion；　with　dark　brown　hair　parted　in　the　middle　and　waving　a　little　about　her　temples。　She　was　irreproachably　dressed；　from　the　tips　of　her　patent　shoes　to　the　black　feathers　in　her　Paris　hat。
  〃The　newspapers！〃　she　repeated。　〃Why；　no；　I　don't　think　that　I　have　seen　them　this　morning。　What　have　they　to　do　with　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes？〃
  The　clerk　pointed　to　the　open　door　of　a　small　private　office。
  〃If　you　will　step　this　way　for　one　moment；　madam；〃　he　begged。
  She　tapped　the　floor　with　her　foot　and　looked　at　him　curiously。　Certainly　the　people　around　seemed　to　be　taking　some　interest　in　their　conversation。
  〃Why　should　I？〃　she　asked。　〃Cannot　you　answer　my　que