It was nearly a quarter to five by the time we were home. That was early enough, but the girls had grown tired of standing, and we had seen Roland win twice. Jonah we had left to come in another car. This was because he had found a brother-fisherman. When last we saw him, he had a pipe in one hand, a lighted match in the other, and was discussing casts.... Falcon met us at the door with a telegram addressed to 'Miss Mansel.' The wording was short and to the point. _Have met with accident can you come Piers Paris._ The next train to Paris left Pau in twelve minutes time. Adèle and a white-faced Jill caught it by the skin of their teeth. They had their tickets, the clothes they stood up in, a brace of vanity bags, and one hundred and forty-five francs. But that was all. It was arranged feverishly upon the platform that Jonah and I should follow, with such of their effects as Daphne gave us, by the ten-thirty train. Then a horn brayed, I kissed Adèle's fingers, poor Jill threw me a ghost of a smile, and their coach rolled slowly out of the station.... I returned to the car dazedly. Thinking it over, I decided that we had done the best we could. On arrival at Bordeaux, my wife and cousin could join the Spanish express, which was due to leave that city at ten-fifteen; this, if it ran to time, would bring them to the French capital by seven o'clock the next morning. Jonah and I would arrive some five hours later.... The Bank was closed, of course, so I drove to the Club forthwith to get some money. Jonah was not there, but, as he was certain to call, I left a note with the porter, telling him what had occurred. Then I purchased our tickets--a lengthy business. It was so lengthy, in fact, that when it was over I called again at the Club on the chance of picking up Jonah and bringing him home. He had not arrived.... I made my way back to the villa dismally enough. My sister and Berry were in the drawing-room. As I opened the door-- "Wherever have you been?" said Daphne. "Did they catch it?" I nodded. "You haven't seen Jonah, I suppose?" I shook my head. "But where have you been, Boy?" I spread out my hands. "Getting money and tickets. You know their idea of haste. But there's plenty of time--worse luck," I added bitterly. Then: "I say, what a dreadful business!" I sank into a chair. "What on earth can have happened?" Berry rose and walked to a window. "Jill's face," he said slowly. "Jill's face." He swung round and flung out an arm. "She looked old!" he cried. "Jill--that baby looked old. She thought it was a wire to say he was on his way, and it hit her between the eyes like the kick of a horse." Shrunk into a corner of her chair, my sister stared dully before her. "He must be bad," said I. "Unless he was bad, he 'ld never have wired like that. If Piers could have done it, I'm sure he 'ld have tempered the wind." "'Can you come?'" quoted Berry, and threw up his arms. Daphne began to cry quietly....