There was a crumpling of paper in the darkness, accompanied by a shuffling of feet and a vibratory motion of the seat-cushions--all indicative of the presence of one who knows exactly where _he_ is, and regrets the fact exceedingly. "The air is very close in here," resumed Nicky's voice. "I wonder----" she whispered a sentence into Stiffy's ear, the only distinguishable word in which was "germs." "Of course, I have _had_ it--slightly," she added in a relieved tone. Something moved again in the darkness opposite to them, and then came a sound as of a window being cautiously slid open. "Still, I _think_," replied Stiffy solicitously--as usual he was warming up to the game slowly but surely--"that it would be wiser for you to keep your mouth closed and breathe through your nose. One cannot be too careful." "All right," said Nicky. Once again silence reigned. But presently there fell upon the ears of the conspirators, rendered almost incredulous by joy, an unmistakable and stertorous sound, as of some heavy and asthmatic body taking in air through unaccustomed channels. Five minutes later the train, groaning arthritically, resumed its way and crawled out of the tunnel into a station. Nicky and Stiffy, blinking in the sudden daylight, beheld the reward of their labours. A corpulent and rapidly ageing citizen, shrinking apprehensively into a corner of the compartment and holding a small handbag upon his knees as if with a view to instant departure, sat glaring malignantly upon them. His face was mottled, his mouth was firmly closed, and he breathed perseveringly through his nostrils. Next moment he had flung open the door and was out upon the platform, inhaling great gulps of vernal air and looking for the station-master. "Stiffy, you darling! I'll never call you a fat-head again!" declared Nicky, enthusiastically embracing her complacent accomplice. "That notion of yours was simply _It!_ Daph, wasn't it splen--Hallo! Bless me, Stiffy, if Daph isn't breathing through her nose too! Look!" Certainly Daphne's lips were tightly compressed, but she turned to her companions and smiled faintly. "It's all right, kids," she said; "I think this carriage is overheated or something. I shall be all right in a minute. Keep that window open, Stiffy dear." She was very white, but on emphatically declining Nicky's offer of first aid she was left to herself, while her brother and sister discussed the course to be followed in the event of another invasion of the carriage. Like true artists, they scorned to achieve the same effect by the same means twice running. Meanwhile Daphne re-read her husband's letter.