Pollyooly had not been gone five minutes, when there came a gentle knocking at the door of the Honourable John Ruffin's chambers. He opened it to find Eglantine, a pretty, dark, slim girl of twenty-two, standing on the doormat, carrying a small kitbag and wearing an air of deepest mystery. "You're Mademoiselle Eglantine, I suppose?" he said. "Ye--es. And you are Monsieur Ruffin," she whispered with an air of utter secrecy. "Ze duchess she 'av been 'ere?" "She has. Come on in. Pollyooly is making preparations to go with you," said the Honourable John Ruffin briskly. "She'll be here in a few minutes." He stepped aside for her to pass. She looked back down the staircase carefully and with the greatest caution; then she entered and went on tiptoe, noiselessly, down the passage into the sitting-room. There could be no doubt that she was thoroughly enjoying the part of a conspirator and resolved to play it to the limit. The Honourable John Ruffin was the last man in the world to spoil her simple pleasure, and as they came into the sitting-room he suddenly gripped her arm. Eglantine jumped and squeaked. "Hist!" said the Honourable John Ruffin, laying a finger on his lips, frowning portentously, and rolling his eyes. Then he added in blank verse, as being appropriate to the conspiratorial attitude: "I thought I heard a footstep on the stairs." They both listened intently--at least Eglantine did; she hardly breathed in her intentness. Then he said in a declamatory fashion: "I was mistaken; we are saved again." He loosed her arm. She breathed more easily, tapped the kit-bag, and said: "I 'av brought ze Lady Marion's clo'es." "Good," said the Honourable John Ruffin. "Sit down." She sat down, breathing quickly, gazing earnestly at the Honourable John Ruffin, who folded his arms and wore his best darkling air. Presently Pollyooly's key grated in the lock. "Hist! She comes!" said the Honourable John Ruffin. Eglantine rose, quivering. Pollyooly came in, shut the door sharply behind her, and came briskly down the passage into the sitting-room. At the sight of her Eglantine forgot the whispering caution of the conspirator; she cried loudly: "But ze likeness! Eet ees marvellous! Incredible! Eet ees 'er leetle ladyship exact!" "Yes. And she'll be more like her than ever in her clothes. Hurry up and get her into them," said the Honourable John Ruffin briskly. He bustled them up the stairs to Pollyooly's attic; and as Eglantine helped her into Lady Marion Ricksborough's clothes, she continued to express her lively wonder at the likeness. She was not long making the change, and they came quickly downstairs. But the Honourable John Ruffin would not let them start at once. "It's no use your getting there too early and hanging about the station," he said firmly. "That's when you'd get spotted. You want to get there just about three minutes before the train starts. You've no luggage to bother you."