“Why not face facts?” said Virginia. “She’s been trying to bring this off for weeks and months, and now——” “It’s false,” roared Roger. “He’s managed to get her alone, an’—an’ . . . . ” “I see,” said Virginia. “Once aboard the coupé and the girl is mine.” She laughed icily. “The only snag is that it’s _her_ coupé.” “What if it is?” cried Roger. “He’s waited his chance—that’s all. He’s asked her to give him a lift, an’——” “Where to? Kingston? We live in Curzon Street—six miles the other way.” “I don’t care about that,” said Roger savagely. “He told her some tale, of course. Rosemary’s very trusting.” “I suppose he put her arms round his neck.” “She was struggling,” screamed Roger. “You saw for yourself the car was all over the road.” “She was making a meal of it,” said Virginia, shuddering. “Ugh! Don’t think I’m defending Derry,” she added suddenly, “because I’m not. _But I know how he felt._” Roger started. “When you’re pursued and badgered by someone who says they’re dying for love of you, it’s very awkward to keep on putting them off—especially if you know them pretty well. One doesn’t want to hurt their feelings, and one doesn’t want a scene, and so for the sake of peace——” “I can’t bear it,” said Roger thickly. “I don’t say I’m blameless, but——” “I wonder,” said Virginia relentlessly, fingering a note in her bag, “I wonder if she has written to him.” Here was treason, unconscionable, barefaced. Captain Chase could hardly credit his ears. After a frightful moment— “I wonder if he’s ever rung her up,” he said brokenly. Virginia, who believed in the telephone, stiffened. “I shouldn’t be surprised,” she said. “Out of kindness of heart.” “And when she came to the telephone told her he couldn’t sleep until——” “Do you remember your reply?” said Virginia in a shaking voice. Roger shrugged his shoulders. “To keep you awake,” he said, “would have been uncharitable.” So soon as she could speak— “Poor deluded Derry,” said Virginia uncertainly: “I feel quite sorry for him.” “You’ll feel much more sorry for him to-morrow morning,” said Roger violently. “Why?” “In fact,” said Captain Chase darkly, “I shouldn’t faint with surprise if he felt sorry for himself.” “Why?” “Well, you don’t think I’m going to pass this over, do you? D’you think I’m going to have my wife hugged an’ kissed in broad—broad lamp-light——” “In her own coupé, at her own request.” “Never,” shouted Roger. “He was assaulting her.” “Then why,” said Virginia swiftly, “why didn’t you stop the car?” Captain Chase started. “I thought men fell over themselves to rescue, er, virtue in distress. Oh, and when you tackle Derry, supposing he denies it, what are you going to say?” “I shall say I saw him.” “Where from? The interior of his own car . . . which you were sharing with his wife . . . at one o’clock in the morning . . . five miles from Berkeley Square?” The sudden perception that his guns were spiked seemed to deprive Captain Chase of the power of utterance.