An ominous foreboding knocked at the door of his mind. Where was Nan going with Rooke--driving at reckless speed at this hour of the day on the way to London, when, according to arrangement, she should have been ready later on to adventure herself in the "stink-pot"? Of course it was just possible she had only gone out for a morning spin with Maryon and proposed returning in time to keep her appointment with him. But the hour was an unusually early one at which to make a start, and the green car was ripping along at a pace which rather precluded the idea of a pleasure jaunt. Sandy was obsessed by a sense of misgiving that would not be denied. Wheeling his bicycle round, he mounted and headed straight for Mallow Court at break-neck speed. He arrived to find Kitty composedly dividing her attention between her breakfast and an illustrated paper, and for a moment he felt reassured. She jumped up and greeted him joyfully. "Hullo, Sandy! Been down to bathe? Come along and have some breakfast with me. Or have you had it already?" He shook his head. "No, I've not been home yet." "Then you must be famished. I'll ring for another cup. I'm all alone in my glory. Barry and the Fentons departed yesterday on their fishing trip, and Nan--" "Yes. Where's Nan?" For the life of him he could not check the eager question. "She's gone off for the day with Maryon. He's driving her over to Clovelly--she's never been there, you know." Sandy's heart sank. He knew the quickest route from St. Wennys to Clovelly--and the green car's nose had been set in quite a different direction. "She's fixed up to go out with me this afternoon," he said slowly. "Tch!" Kitty clicked her tongue sharply against her teeth and, crossing to the chimneypiece, took down a letter which, was resting there. "I'd forgotten this! She left it to be given to you when you called for her this afternoon. I wanted her to 'phone and put you off, but she said you would understand when you'd read the letter and that there was something she wanted you to do for her." Sandy ripped open the envelope and his eyes flew down the page. Its contents struck him like a blow--none the less hard because it had been vaguely anticipated--and a half-stifled exclamation broke from him.