“He isn’t,” said Hal; “he’s somewhere east of Piccadilly, studying Phœnician Architecture, and the herringbone pattern on antique masonry.” “Oh, damn!” intercepted Dick, “the old man has let me down badly this time; this car won’t move before daybreak. It means a red light burning all night, and we must go to the inn.” “But, Dick,” Hal exclaimed in quick alarm. “How can I let Dudley know? He’ll have a fit at the idea of my being out all night like that.” “He ought to be too thankful you are safe and sound to mind anything else.” “But he won’t; because he is always grumbling at my not getting back before dark. There must surely be a train from somewhere?” Her voice had grown seriously alarmed as she began to realise what sort of a fix she was in. The stranger came forward to lend his aid to the inspection, and after a cursory glance added his verdict to Dick’s. “You won’t move her before morning; and there are no trains anywhere near here on Sunday night. I am going to London myself; you must let me give you both a lift.” Dick stood up with an air of finality. “I can’t leave her. She isn’t exactly all my own, you see. I must stay at the inn, but if you wouldn’t mind taking Miss Pritchard—” he looked at Hal a little anxiously. “I shall be delighted,” came the brisk response from the stranger. Hal for once was nonplussed, but her habitual humour reasserted itself. “I don’t know which Dudley will think the most dreadful,” she remarked comically, “for me to stay at the inn unchaperoned, or motor back with a stranger. I seem to be fairly between the devil and the deep sea.” The men laughed, but Dick made the decision. “You had better go back,” he said. “He will at least have you safe under lock and key by midnight that way and not lie awake worrying all night himself.” “Then let me run you to the inn first,” said the stranger, and after fixing his red lights, Dick went off with them in search of help to make the car safer for the night. A little later the stranger’s motor turned Londonwards with two occupants only, one in front and one behind. After a few miles he stopped. “Won’t you come and sit in front? It seems so unsociable to travel like this.” “Most unsociable,” said Hal, “but it would please Brother Dudley.” “Never mind Brother Dudley now.” The voice was very attractive. “Mind me, instead. I’m very dull here, and I hate driving in the dark. My chauffeur is down with the ‘flu’, and I couldn’t beg, borrow, nor steal any one else’s.” “Are you a doctor?” she asked, taking her seat beside him. “Why do you think I should be a doctor?” tucking a warm rug cosily round her, in a leisurely fashion. “Only because I thought perhaps you were obliged to go, in spite of your chauffeur being ill.” “I was obliged to go, but I’m not a doctor.” They started forward again, but the pace was noticeably slower. “I hope you don’t mind going slowly, it is so difficult to steer in te dark?”