Part 35 (1/2)
”Well?”
”You told him you did the repairs yourself, in a lonely part of the country.”
”Don't be a fool, Jane. I don't wish everybody to know where I have been.”
”You were at ----?”
”Yes.”
”Did you see the airs.h.i.+p over there?”
”I saw something hovering in the air but of course I never dreamed it was one of those things.”
”And you heard no bombs explode?”
He laughed as he replied:
”Not likely. I should hardly wait for that.”
She was not satisfied. When they started on their journey the landlord said:
”I hope you will not have another breakdown, Mr. Meason.”
”No fear of that. I've patched it up well; it will carry us to our destination.”
”Where's that?”
”Beyond York,” said Carl.
”Inquisitive beggar,” he said to Jane when the car was away.
”We are not going to York?” she asked.
”No, you asked to go to London; we'll get there to-night,” he said.
”Then why did you tell him we were going to York?”
”Because it suited my purpose,” he replied.
CHAPTER XXII
JANE SUSPECTS
The journey to London was accomplished without mishap. Carl was a good driver; the car sped along at a rapid pace. Jane enjoyed the ride; the scenery was new to her, and she was observant.
Arriving at the city he drove to the Fairfax Hotel, a quiet place mostly used by families. There was no garage. Leaving Jane there, he went to put up the car.
She waited for him. He seemed a long time coming. She did not care to leave the room in his absence.
At last he came. He made no apology for being away so long; he seemed preoccupied and said little.