syth's. And Mrs. Otway, busy as she had been and
absorbed in her own affairs while in town, had yet remembered
to stipulate that one of the large cupboards
in Anna's bedroom should remain locked, and full of
Anna's things.

It was now nearly one o'clock. What could have
happened to her business visitor? And then, just as
she was thinking this for the hundredth time, she heard
the unmistakable sound of a motor coming slowly
down the road outside. Quickly she went out to the
back door.

The motor was a small, low, open car, and without
surprise she saw that the man who now was getting
out of it was the same person whom she had seen in
the autumn leaving Alfred Head's house. But this
time there was no Boy Scout -- the stranger was alone.

He hurried towards her. "Am I speaking to Mrs.
Bauer?" he asked, in a sharp, quick tone. And then,
as she said "Yes," and dropped a little curtsey, he went
on: "I had a breakdown -- a most tiresome thing! But
I suppose it makes no difference? You have the house
to yourself?"

She hesitated -- was she bound to tell him of the two
gentlemen who were having their luncheon in the
dining-room which overlooked the garden, and of Miss
Forsyth in the drawing-room? She decided that no --
she was not obliged to tell him anything of the sort. If
she did, he might want to go away and come back another
time. Then everything would have to be begun over again.

"The parcels all ready are," she said. "Shall I them
bring?"

"No, no! I will come with you. We will make two

[[311]]

p310 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p311w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p312

v?