Part 24 (2/2)

”Who is she?” Lady Mary asked, quickly.

”The little dark lady with whom he is talking now,” Peter Ruff continued. ”He seems, too, to be going early. He has no dances reserved after the twelfth. We will go downstairs at once, if you please. I must speak to your brother.”

”Have you been able to think of anything?” she asked, anxiously. ”Is there any chance at all, do you think?”

”I believe so,” Peter Ruff answered. ”It is most interesting. Don't be too sanguine, though. The odds are against us, and the time is very short. Is the driver of your electric brougham to be trusted?”

”Absolutely,” she a.s.sured him. ”He is an old servant.”

”Will you lend him to me?” Peter Ruff asked, ”and tell him that he is to obey my instructions absolutely?”

”Of course,” she answered. ”You are going away, then?”

Peter Ruff nodded. He was a little sparing of words just then. The thoughts were chasing one another through his brain. He was listening, too, for the sweep of a dress behind.

”Is there nothing I can do?” Lady Mary begged, eagerly.

Peter Ruff shook his head. In the distance he saw the Honourable Maurice come quickly toward them. With a firm but imperceptible gesture he waved him away.

”Don't let your brother speak to me,” he said. ”We can't tell who is behind. What time did you say the Prime Minister was expected?”

”At two o'clock,” Lady Mary said, anxiously.

Peter Ruff glanced at his watch. It was already half an hour past midnight.

”Very well,” he said, ”I will do what I can. If my theory is wrong, it will be nothing. If I am right--well, there is a chance, anyhow. In the meantime--”

”In the meantime?” she repeated, breathlessly.

”Take your brother back to the ballroom,” Peter Ruff directed. ”Make him dance--dance yourself. Don't give yourselves away by looking anxious.

When the time is short--say at a quarter to two--he can come down here and wait for me.”

”If you don't come!” she exclaimed.

”Then we shall have lost,” Peter Ruff said, calmly. ”If you don't see me again to-night, you had better read the newspapers carefully for the next few days.”

”You are going to do something dangerous!” she protested.

”There is danger in interfering at all in such a matter as this,” he answered, ”but you must remember that it is not only my profession--it is my hobby. Remember, too,” he added, with a smile, ”that I do not often lose!”

For twenty minutes Peter Ruff sat in the remote corner of Lady Mary's electric brougham, drawn up at the other side of the Square, and waited.

At last he pressed a b.u.t.ton. They glided off. Before them was a large, closed motor car. They started in discreet chase.

Fortunately, however, the chase was not a long one. The car which Peter Ruff had been following was drawn up before a plain, solid-looking house, unlit and of gloomy appearance. The little lady with the wonderful eyes was already halfway up the flagged steps. Hastily lifting the flap and looking behind as they pa.s.sed, her pursuer saw her open the door with a latchkey, and disappear. Peter Ruff pulled the check-string and descended. For several moments he stood and observed the house into which the lady whom he had been following had disappeared. Then he turned to the driver.

”I want you to watch that house,” he said, ”never to take your eyes off it. When I reappear from it, if I do at all, I shall probably be in a hurry. Directly you see me be on your box ready to start. A good deal may depend upon our getting away quickly.”

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