"No, it's not,--other communities have waked up--Northumberland hasn't. There is too much of the moneyed interest to be looked after; and the councilmen know it, and are out for the stuff, as brazen as the street-walker, and vastly more insistent.--I'm going in here, for some cigarettes--when I come out, we'll change the talk to something less irritating. I like Northumberland, but I despise about ninety-nine one hundredths of its inhabitants." When he returned, Croyden was gazing after an automobile which was disappearing in a cloud of dust. "Ever see a motor before?" he asked. Croyden did not hear him. "The fellow driving, unless I am mightily fooled, is the same who stopped me on the street, in front of Clarendon," he said. "That's interesting--any one with him?" "A woman." "A woman! You're safe!" said Macloud. "He isn't travelling around with a petticoat--at least, if he's thinking of tackling you." "It isn't likely, I admit--but suppose he is?" The car was rapidly vanishing in the distance. Macloud nodded toward it. "He is leaving here as fast as the wheels will turn." "I've got a very accurate memory for faces," said Croyden. "I couldn't well be mistaken." "Wait and see. If it was he, and he has some new scheme, it will be declared in due time. Nothing yet from the Government?" "No!" "It's a bluff! So long as they think you have the jewels, they will try for them. There's Captain Carrington standing at his office door. Suppose we go over." "Sitting up to grandfather-in-law!" laughed Croyden. "Distinctly proper, sir, distinctly proper! Go and chat with him; I'll stop for you, presently." * * * * * Meanwhile, the two women had continued on to Ashburton. "Did he recognize me?" Elaine asked, dropping her muff from before her face, when they were past the two men. "I think not," answered Davila. "Did he give any indication of it?" "None, whatever." "It would make a difference in my--attitude toward him when we met!" she smiled. "Naturally! a very great difference." Elaine was nervous, she saw. The fact that Croyden did not come out and stop them, that he let them go on, was sufficient proof that he had not recognized her. "You see, I am assuming that you know why I wanted to come to Hampton," Elaine said, when, her greeting made to Mrs. Carrington, she had carried Davila along to her room. "Yes, dear," Davila responded. "And you made it very easy for me to come." "I did as I thought you would want--and as I know you would do with me were I in a similar position." "I'm sadly afraid I should not have thought of you, were you----" "Oh, yes, you would! If you had been in a small town, and Mr. Croyden had told you of my difficulty----" "As _Mr. Macloud_ told you of mine--I see, dear."