though she did her best to do so, as her host thrust
her, with small ceremony, out of the now reopened
door.

Anna felt consumed with curiosity. She crossed
over the little street, and hid herself in the shadow of
a passage leading to a mews. There she waited, determined
to see Alfred Head's mysterious visitor.

She had not time to feel cold before the door
through which she had lately been pushed so quickly
opened again, letting out a short, thin man, dressed
in a comfortable motoring coat. She heard very
plainly the good-nights exchanged in a low voice.

As soon as the door shut behind him, the prosperous-looking
stranger began walking quickly along.
Anna, at a safe distance, followed him. He turned
down a side street, where, drawn up before a house
inscribed "to let," stood a small, low motor-car. In
it sat a Boy Scout. She knew he was a Boy Scout by
his hat, for the lad's uniform was covered by a big
cape.

She walked quietly on, and so passed the car. As
she went by, she heard Hegner's friend say in a kindly
voice, and in excellent English, albeit there was a
twang in it, "I hope you've not been cold, my boy.
My business took a little longer than I thought it
would." And the shrill, piping answer, "Oh no, sir!
I have been quite all right, sir!" And then the motor
gave a kind of snort, and off they went, at a sharp
pace, towards the Southampton road.

Anna smiled to herself. Manfred Hegner was a
very secretive person -- she had always known that.
But why tell her such a silly lie? Hegner was getting
quite a big business man; he had many irons in the

[[232]]

p231 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p232w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p233

v?