"In five minutes I was in the wood. Just before I disappeared among its trees I heard someone calling 'Monsieur, monsieur!' It sounded like the voice of the head waiter, but I wouldn't have stopped for fifty head waiters. I took the path Mary had indicated and ran along it at the top of my speed. Suddenly, to my joy, I caught sight of the figure of a girl; she was seated on a mound of grass, and, though her face was from me, I made no doubt it was Mary. She wore the most charming blue cloak (it was a chilly morning) which completely enveloped her. I determined not to shilly-shally. She loved me--I loved her. I ran forward, plumped down on my knees behind her, took her head between my hands dodged round, and kissed her cheek. "'At last, my darling!' I cried in passionate tones. "By Jupiter, it was the other girl, though! "I sprang back in horror. The girl looked at me for a moment. Then she blushed; then she frowned; then--why, then she began to laugh consumedly. I was amazed. "'"At last," you call it,' she gasped. 'I call it "at first"'; and she laughed merrily and melodiously. She certainly had a nice laugh, that girl. "Now, concerning what follows, I have, since then, entertained some doubts whether I behaved in all respects discreetly. You will allow that the position was a difficult one, but it is, I admit, very possible that my wisest course would have been to make an apology and turn tail as quickly as I could. Well, I didn't. I thought that I owed the lady a full explanation. Besides, I wanted a full explanation myself. Finally (oh, yes, I see you fellows grinning and winking), Mary was not there, and this young lady rather interested me. I decided that I would have five minutes' talk with her; then I would run back and find Mary. "'I must beg a thousand pardons,' I began, 'but I took you for somebody else." "'Oh, of course,' said she, with a shrug, 'it's always that.' "'You appear incredulous,' said I, rather offended. "'Well, and if I am?' said she. "My feelings were hurt. I produced Mary's second note. "'If I can trust to your discretion, I'll prove what I say,' I remarked in a nettled tone. "'I shall be very curious to hear the proof, sir, and I will be most discreet,' she said. She was pouting, but her eyes danced. Really, she looked very pretty--although, of course, I would not for a moment compare her with Lady Mary. "'A lady,' said I, 'was so kind as to tell me to seek her here this morning.' "'Oh, as if I believed that!' "I was piqued. "'There's the proof,' I cried, flinging the note into her lap. "She took it up, glanced at it, and gave a little shriek. "'Where did you get this?' "'Why, from the head waiter.' "'Oh, the fool!' she cried. 'It's mine.' "'Yours? nonsense! He gave me that and another last night.' "'Oh, the stupidity! They were for--they were not for you. They were for--someone who is to arrive.' "I pointed at the signature and gasped, 'M.! Do you sign M.?'