“While Anglesea had been talking, Saviola had brought up the vehicle, and now he handed me into it and entered himself, followed by Anglesea.
“We drove at once to the station and took tickets for London Bridge. In five minutes we three were crowded into a coupé; and in little more than an hour we were at London Bridge.
“Anglesea, who had resumed the role of friend, guide and protector to the two young maniacs, took us to a quiet family hotel, where we three got supper in a private sitting room.
“‘I assure you I do all this in the interests of my friends, your relatives, my dear. I knew that Saviola would, sooner or later, run off with you. So I determined to see you safely through it all!’ he explained again, as we sat down to supper.
“When the meal was over, Anglesea called a cab and we all drove to King’s Cross Station, where we were just in time to catch the night express on the Great Northern Railway.
“Anglesea took a compartment for ourselves, and took along also a basket of fruit, a bag of cakes, and a box of bonbons, for he knew that I was still child enough to love sweetmeats. He also took half a dozen of bottled lemonade and ginger beer.
“We none of us slept a wink that night, but laughed and talked all night, and ate and drank at intervals.
“I did not at all feel the gravity of the situation. I had not left any one behind whom I cared much about, or to whom I thought I owed any duty. So, I had no regrets or compunctions on that score.
“As for my dear father, time, absence and negligence had really estranged us, or seemed to have done so.
“I even thought my marriage might bring us closer together; for Luigi had promised to take me to him as soon as he should consent to see me.