"You told me there was no one in the house, but someone has just come out of the gate, and is standing by my motor!" He added sternly, "Was heisst das?" (What does this mean?) Anna hurried to the window and looked through the muslin curtain hanging in front of it. Yes, the stranger had spoken truly. There was Mr. Hayley, standing between the little motor-car and the back door. "Do not yourself worry," she said quickly. "It is only a gentleman who luncheon here has eaten. Go out and explain to him everything I will." But the man had turned a greenish-white colour. "How d'you mean 'explain'?" he said roughly, in English. "Explain that they are things of mine--luggage--that taking away you are," said Anna. The old woman could not imagine why the stranger showed such agitation. Mr. Hayley had no kind of right to interfere with her and her concerns, and she had no fear that he would do so. "If you are so sure you can make it all right," the man whispered low in German, "I will leave the house by some other way--there is surely some back way of leaving the house? I will walk away, and stop at Hegner's till I know the coast is clear." "There is no back way out," whispered Anna, also in German. She was beginning to feel vaguely alarmed. "But no one can stop you. Walk straight out, while I stay and explain. I can make it all right." In a gingerly way he moved to one side the heavy object he had been carrying, and then, as if taking shelter behind her, he followed the old woman out through the door. "What's this you're taking out of the house, Anna?" Mr. Hayley's tone was not very pleasant. "You mustn't mind my asking you. My aunt, as you know, told me to remain here to-day to look after things." "Only my luggage it is," stammered Anna. "I had hoped to have cleared out my room while the wedding in progress was." "Your luggage?" repeated James Hayley uncomfortably. He was now feeling rather foolish, and it was to him a very disturbing because an unusual sensation. "Yes, my luggage," repeated Anna. "And this"--she hesitated a moment--"this person here is going to look for a man to help carry out my heavy boxes. There are two. He cannot manage them himself." James Hayley looked surprised, but to her great relief, he allowed the stranger to slip by, and Anna for a moment watched the little man walking off at a smart pace towards the gate house. She wondered how she could manage to send him a message when the tiresome, inquisitive Mr. Hayley had gone. "But whose motor is that?" Mr. Hayley went on, in a puzzled tone. "You must forgive me for asking you, Anna, but you know we live in odd times." He had followed her into the kitchen, and was now standing there with her. As she made no answer, he suddenly espied the odd-looking parcel which stood close to his feet, where the stranger had put it down.