"They could," agreed Sandy, puffing thoughtfully at his cigarette. "But we've got to remember Rooke has a house in Westminster--nice little backwater. It's just on the cards they might go there first--wherever else they intended going on to afterwards--just to pick up anything Rooke might want, arrange about letters and so on." "Yes?" There was a keen light in Kitty's eyes. She was following Sandy's thought with all a woman's quickness. "And you think you might overtake them there?" "I must do more than that. I must _be there first_--to receive them." "Can you do it in the time?" "Yes. By train. They're travelling by car, remember." Kitty glanced at the clock. "It's too late for you to catch the early train from St. Wennys Halt. And there's no other till the afternoon." "I shan't risk the afternoon train. It stops at every little wayside station and if it were ten minutes late I'd miss the express from Exeter." "Then you'll motor?" "Yes, I'll drive to Exeter, and catch the train that gets in to town about half-past seven. Maryon isn't likely to reach London till about an hour or so after that." "That's settled, then. The next thing is breakfast for two," said Kitty practically. "I'd only just begun when you came, and I--I'll start again to keep you company. You must be absolutely starving by now." She rang the bell and gave her orders to the servant who appeared in answer. "What about Aunt Eliza?" she went on when they were alone again. "I'll 'phone her you're having breakfast here, shall I?" "Yes. And, look here, we've got to make things appear quite ordinary. The mater knows I'm supposed to be taking Nan for a run this afternoon. You'd better say I'm coming straight back to fetch the car, as we're starting earlier." Kitty nodded and hurried off to the telephone. "It's all right," she announced, when she returned. "Aunt Eliza took it all in, and merely remarked that I spoilt you!" She succeeded in summoning up a faint smile. "Then that coast's clear," said Sandy. "Who else? There's Roger. What shall you do if he comes over to-day?" "He won't. Lady Gertrude had a heart attack yesterday, and as Isobel Carson's away, Roger, of course, has to stay with his mother. He 'phoned Nan last night." "I think that safeguards everything this end, then," replied Sandy, heaving a sigh of relief. "Allah is very good!" After that, being a man with a long journey in front of him, he sensibly applied himself to the consumption of bacon and eggs, while Kitty, being a woman, made a poor attempt at swallowing a cup of tea. Half an hour later he was ready to start for home. "It's the slenderest chance, Kitty," he reminded, her gravely. "They may not go near London. . . . But it's the _only_ chance!" "I know," she assented with equal gravity.