It was a cold, raw morning, and Jim, in a fur-lined coat, rolled about the platform like a giant bear. He took two through tickets to Florence, bought a couple of morning papers and some illustrated weeklies, and, with the assistance of the guard, engaged a carriage supplied with foot-warmers. Hardly had he completed his preparations when Olive made her appearance, accompanied, to his great delight, by Miss Ostergaard. Both ladies were in the best of spirits. "But I don't see Mr. Mallow," said Olive, her face falling somewhat. "Does he not know that I am going?" "Told him so last night--that is, I left an explanatory card for him; but he can't have got it." "Oh, Lord Aldean, I trust nothing is wrong with him." "No fear of that," replied Jim, confidently. "You can trust Mallow to look after himself; besides, he told me he might very likely be away for some time over this Hain business." "Is that the man connected with the murder?" "Yes; Vraik reported that he had seen him talking to Semberry in Poplar Street, so Mallow determined to catch him himself." "Talking to Major Semberry?" said Tui, thoughtfully. "That looks as though the Major had something to do with poor Mr. Carson's death." "I have not the slightest doubt about it. Semberry knows a good deal more than he is inclined to tell. But you needn't worry about Mallow, Mrs. Carson--or, shall I say, Miss Bellairs?" "No, no," said Olive, hurriedly. "Don't please do that for the present. Have you the tickets?" "Yes; tickets, and carriages, and papers. Everything is square." "Are you well wrapped up?" asked Tui, with an air of proprietorship. "Warm as toast," said Jim, laughing, and they walked down the platform. "You have left nothing behind, Jim?" "Nothing, except my heart." "And that is in good keeping," said Olive, smiling. "Lord Aldean, wait in the carriage with Tui while I buy a paper." "Plenty of papers here," said the stupid Aldean, not seeing her kindly intention. Tui, more quick-witted, turned over the journals. "_Telegraph, Morning Post, Daily Mail, Sketch_, and _Graphic_," she counted, "and not a single fashion-paper amongst them; so like a man." Jim looked depressed, and Olive went off, laughing, in search of publications of a more particularly feminine nature. Tui and her lover were left alone in the carriage. "Oh, what a donkey!" she said, shaking her head. For the moment Aldean failed utterly to understand. Then a comprehension of her meaning dawned upon him, and doubtless he did his best to make amends. Tui's farewell left him in a state of ecstasy, which endured long after the train rolled out of the station. He stared solemnly out of the window, and Olive, who knew well where his thoughts were, had not the heart to break so sacred a silence. She let him dream on, and secluded herself behind her morning paper. He had been indulging himself for the best part of half an hour, when a startled exclamation from Olive aroused him. "Oh, how dreadful!" she said.