So it was that they stole away from the Court in the grey dawn of the next morning, footed it to Salisbury, recovered their baggage, and boarded the early train for Southampton. As it moved out of the station they passed a long line of box cars on a siding, from one of which the angry scream of an elephant resounded.
"Just in time," said the Consul with a sigh of relief. "I wish her ladyship joy of my little remembrance."
CHAPTER VI
IN WHICH MR. SCARSDALE CHANGES HIS NAME
Mr. Scarsdale entered Mrs. Allingford's compartment with so great an impetus, when he swung himself into her carriage at Basingstoke, that he completely lost his balance, and shot past her on all fours, to land in a heap on the floor. A second later the guard banged the door, and the train was off.
"What does this mean?" exclaimed the Consul's wife, "and where is my husband?"
"Excuse me," gasped Scarsdale, picking himself up from the floor, "but I couldn't leave you."
"So it appears," she replied coldly. "But you have not answered my question, and——" as the train began to move rapidly, "it is not possible that we are getting under way!"
"Yes," he said gloomily, "we are off to Southampton."