Leaving him in my room, I crept again down the corridor, and presently both she and Mason came noiselessly along in the dark. My little friend had on a thick box-cloth motor coat with fur collar, a motor-cap and her goggles hanging round her neck, while Mason, who often went in the car with her, had also a thick black coat, close cap and veil. "I hope we sha'n't get a break-down," Tibbie said, with a laugh. "I really ought to take Webber with me," she added, referring to her smart chauffeur. "But how can I?" "No," I said. "Drive yourself and risk it. I know you can change a tyre or mend a puncture as well as any man." Whereat she laughed. "Very well," she said, "let us go," and we crossed the Long Gallery and descended the wide oak stairs, Mason carrying the candle, which she afterwards blew out. Upon my suggestion, we made our exit by that same window through which Eric and I had passed earlier in the night. Mistress and maid scrambled through, and I assisted them down upon the grass. Then we slipped across to where the car was, opened the door, and after Sybil had mounted into her place Mason and I pushed the fine "Mercedes" slowly out, while she steered it down the incline to the avenue. She let it run twenty yards or so, and afterwards put on the brake to allow her maid to mount beside her. Then after I had tucked the rug round her legs, she gripped my hand tightly and meaningly, saying in a low voice,-- "Thanks so much, Mr Hughes. Good-bye." "Good-bye," I whispered. "_Bon voyage_." And slowly the long powerful car glided off almost noiselessly down the incline, and was a moment later lost in the darkness of the great avenue. I stood peering into the blackness, but in a few moments could hear no further sound. She had escaped, leaving me utterly mystified and wondering. When, ten minutes later, I returned to Eric and described her silent departure, he said,-- "So you're going to meet her in town--eh?" "Yes, in secret, on Thursday night. She has made an appointment. She will leave Mason in Bournemouth, and then simply disappear. By the time Mason returns here the dead man will be in his coffin, therefore she won't have any opportunity of identifying him." "But there'll be a hue and cry after her. The police will think that something has happened to her." "Let them think. We shall pretend to make inquiries and assist them. In the meantime, with all these letters and things in our hands, we hold the trump cards." "If Tibbie knew that we had her letters, I wonder what she would say-- how she would act?" "She no doubt fears that they may fall into the hands of the police. That is why she is disappearing."