LORAINE'S ADVENTURES Loraine Wade sat up in bed and switched on the light. It was exactly ten minutes to one. She had gone to bed early--at half-past nine. She possessed the useful art of being able to wake herself up at the required time, so she had been able to enjoy some hours of refreshing sleep. Two dogs slept in the room with her, and one of these now raised his head and looked at her inquiringly. "Quiet, Lurcher," said Loraine, and the big animal put his head down again obediently, watching her from between his shaggy eyelashes. It is true that Bundle had once doubted the meekness of Loraine Wade, but that brief moment of suspicion had passed. Loraine had seemed so entirely reasonable, so willing to be kept out of everything. And yet, if you studied the girl's face, you saw that there was strength of purpose in the small, resolute jaw and the lips that closed together so firmly. Loraine rose and dressed herself in a tweed coat and skirt. Into one pocket of the coat she dropped an electric torch. Then she opened the drawer of her dressing-table and took out a small ivory-handled pistol--almost a toy in appearance. She had bought it the day before at Harrods and she was very pleased with it. She gave a final glance round the room to see if she had forgotten anything, and at that moment the big dog rose and came over to her, looking up at her with pleading eyes and wagging his tail. Loraine shook her head. "No, Lurcher. Can't go. Missus can't take you. Got to stay here and be a good boy." She dropped a kiss on the dog's head, made him lie down on his rug again, and then slipped noiselessly out of the room, closing the door behind her. She let herself out of the house by a side door and made her way round to the garage, where her little two-seater car was in readiness. There was a gentle slope, and she let the car run silently down it, not starting the engine till she was some way from the house. Then she glanced at the watch on her arm and pressed her foot down on the accelerator. She left the car at a spot she had previously marked down. There was a gap there in the fencing that she could easily get through. A few minutes later, slightly muddy, Loraine stood inside the grounds of Wyvern Abbey. As noiselessly as possible, she made her way towards the venerable ivy-covered building. In the distance a stable clock chimed two. Loraine's heart beat faster as she drew near to the terrace. There was no one about--no sign of life anywhere. Everything seemed peaceful and undisturbed. She reached the terrace and stood there, looking about her. Suddenly, without the least warning, something from above fell with a flop almost at her feet. Loraine stooped to pick it up. It was a brown paper packet, loosely wrapped. Holding it, Loraine looked up. There was an open window just above her head, and even as she looked a leg swung over it and a man began to climb down the ivy.