"Yes," she replied. "Will you go?"
"I don't ride very well," I answered, "but I'll go."
"Oh, and here's Mr. Del Mar," she added, turning. "You'll join us at the Wilkeshire hunt in a paper chase this afternoon, surely, Mr. Del Mar?"
"Charmed, I'm sure," he agreed gracefully.
For several minutes we chatted, planning, then he withdrew. "I shall meet you on the way to the Club," he promised.
It was not long before Elaine was ready, and from the stable a groom led three of the best trained cross-country horses in the neighborhood, for old Taylor Dodge, Elaine's father, had been passionately fond of hunting, as had been both Elaine and Aunt Josephine.
We met on the porch and a few minutes later mounted and cantered away. On the road Del Mar joined us and we galloped along to the Hunt Club, careful, however, to save the horses as much as possible for the dash over the fields.
. . . . . . .
For some time the uncouth tramp continued gazing fixedly out of the bushes at the deserted hotel.
Suddenly, he heard a noise and dropped flat on the ground, looking keenly about. Through the trees he could see one of Del Mar's men stationed on sentry duty. He was leaning against a tree, on the alert.