“But, no. I have money,” said the princess, thrusting her hand into her pocket. “Will you not buy me clothes?”
She drew out a little gold chain purse with five sovereigns in it, and handed it to the Terror. He and Erebus examined it with warm admiration, for it was indeed a pretty purse.
“We should have had to buy you a bathing-dress, anyhow. There’s a pool just under the knoll,” said the Terror. “How much shall we want, Erebus?”
“You’d better have two pounds and be on the safe side,” said Erebus.
The Terror transferred two sovereigns from the purse of the princess to his own. Then he arranged that she should meet him outside the door of the peach-garden at nine o’clock, or thereabouts at night. He would wait half an hour that she might not have to hurry and perhaps arouse the suspicion that she had gone of her own free will. He made several suggestions about the manner of her escape.
When she left them, they rode straight to Rowington and set about purchasing her outfit. They bought a short serge skirt, two linen shirts, a blue jersey against the evening chill, a cap, sandals, stockings, underclothing and a bathing-dress. They carried the parcels home on their bicycles. When she saw them on their arrival Mrs. Dangerfield supposed that they were parts of their own equipment.
That evening the Terror worked hard at his ingenious device for throwing the searchers off the scent. It was:
“We are avenged.
A Desparate Socialist”