"I am not a treasure," cried Mildred, becoming pink. "You are. Who knows that better than I, my darling." "You think too well of me." "Impossible. You are the best and dearest----" "Stop! Stop!" Mildred covered her face. "Remember we are not alone." "Oh, don't mind me," said Dan phlegmatically, "I'm in love myself, Miss Vincent." She nodded comprehendingly. "With Miss Moon. Freddy has told me." "Has he told you that my marriage depends upon my finding out who murdered her father?" questioned the young man dismally. "Yes, and that you need money for the search." "Which money," continued Laurance determinedly, "must be obtained by Dan winning this London to York race. That can be done, I am certain, with one of your uncle's aeroplanes, Mildred, as he has made wonderful improvements in their structure, and----" "But he declines to furnish me with a machine," interrupted Halliday in a vexed tone, "not even my offer to share the £2,000 prize tempts him. He is too rich, I suppose?" He cast an inquiring glance at the girl. Mildred shook her head. "Uncle Solomon is not rich," she replied quietly. "He must be," insisted Dan sharply; "he could not indulge in such an expensive hobby otherwise." "Mrs. Jarsell helps him with money, though, to be sure, he has a little of his own. Still, unless she supplied money, Uncle Solomon could not go on building aeroplanes, especially as he rarely sells one, and wishes to keep all his inventions to himself. His idea is to invent a perfect machine and then sell it to the Government, and he fancies that if he allows any one else to handle his aeroplanes, his secrets may be prematurely discovered." "Well, I can see his objection in that way," assented Dan, "since more ideas are stolen than pocket handkerchiefs, as Balzac says. But Mrs. Jarsell?" "She is a rich and rather eccentric lady, who lives at The Grange," said Mr. Laurance, before Mildred could reply. "I am as wise as I was before, Freddy. It's an odd thing for a lady to finance an inventor of flying-machines. She must be large-minded and have a very great deal of money." "She is large-minded and she has plenty of money," admitted Mildred vivaciously; "her influence with my uncle is extraordinary." "Not at all if she supplies the cash," said Dan cynically, "but I have an idea, Miss Vincent. Suppose we enlist Mrs. Jarsell's sympathies." "About the murder?" "No," said Halliday, after thinking for a moment or so. "I don't see the use of talking too much about that. The more secret Freddy and I keep our hunt, the better prospect have we of success, since the gang will not be on guard, as it were. No, Miss Vincent, introduce me to Mrs. Jarsell as a young and ardent lover who wishes to make money in order to marry the girl of his heart. If she is romantic--and nine old ladies out of ten are romantic--she will induce your uncle to, give me his newest aeroplane."