She lay passive and silent for a while, intent on regaining her strength, and her eyes followed him contentedly. As for Labar, he felt a sense of elation that he had at least got her from the clutches of Larry Hughes, though he chafed to think that he was held from any farther action till the night was out. He had a shrewd idea that when the pursuit proved hopeless things would happen swiftly at the house on the marshes. He could scarcely expect that Larry's people would calmly await the return of Penelope or himself some time the next day with a posse of police. The only chance was that the fog which seemed likely to confine the girl and himself to the marsh for the night, would also delay any active measures of escape that the others might initiate. "You are shivering," said Penelope. "I wish you would take your coat. I feel quite warm. I really don't need it." He smiled down at her. "I am perfectly all right while I move about. You rest yourself for the while. Presently we will move on, although I am afraid we shall get nowhere. Do you happen to have any idea where we are?" She shook her head. "Beyond the fact that we are on the Romney Marshes I haven't the faintest idea. What are you going to do?" "I don't know," he confessed. "It looks as if we may have to spend the night in the open. It will be a bit of an ordeal for you, I am afraid." The girl gave a little shiver, but she smiled at the same time. "I don't mind that. At any rate I am out of the hands of Larry Hughes. I think I could stand anything better than the dread of what might have happened." He stopped abruptly in his walk, and his face became stern and set. "Did Hughes--has anyone----" He felt some difficulty in framing the question that was in his mind. "Have you been badly treated?" "Not physically. There have been hints--threats." She pulled herself to a sitting posture and spread an arm in an expressive gesture. "I have been on the edge of terror and despair for days. Oh, it was worse than anything that you can imagine." He came and sat down on the grass beside her. She made no resistance when he caught one of her hands in his own. "Not altogether," he said. "I think that I can realise something of what you have gone through. Now I want you to tell me--not, if you will allow me to say so, as a police official but as a friend--what has happened since you were taken away from London." "As a friend," she repeated. "As something more than a friend if you will, Penelope," he said, and his voice sounded in his own ears as a hoarse whisper. "As a man who would do anything in the world to be more than your friend. It is presumption--I am only a police inspector--you scarcely know me--but if----"