Ruth was white with anger. She saw, a moment later, that the driver ahead of her had accomplished his design. For no sooner had Ruth’s car stopped, than the other motorist forged ahead. Ruth resumed the chase, but she was obliged to be careful. She dared not risk the lives of her friends by driving too close to the other car. The man ahead might repeat his trick. Ruth could not be sure that she could always stop her motor in so brief a space of time and distance.
So the smaller of the two automobiles arrived first at the countess’s villa.
The Countess Sophia von Stolberg evidently expecting a visit from the “Automobile Girls,” sat at her piano in her drawing-room, playing one of Chopin’s nocturnes. At the sound of the automobile outside on the avenue the countess left her music and ran out on her veranda to meet her young visitors. But instead of the four girls a heavy, well-built man in a long dust coat and goggles approached the countess. The countess did not recognize him at once. A suave voice soon enlightened her. “Madame,” it said. “I have come to see you on an important matter of business. I must see you alone.”
“What business can you have with me, Monsieur Duval?” asked the young countess coldly. But her voice trembled slightly.
“I bring you news of a friend,” declared Mr. Duval quietly.
“I have no friends whom you could know, Monsieur,” answered the Countess Sophia.
“No?” her visitor replied, shrugging his shoulders and speaking in a light bantering tone. “Shall I inform you, then, and your young friends, whom I now see approaching?”
Ruth’s motor car was now in plain sight. The four girls rushed forward to join the countess.
At the same moment the tap-tap of a stick was heard inside the house. Madame de Villiers appeared, followed by Johann with a tray of lemonade.
The countess spoke quickly. “No, no, you must say nothing to me, now. I cannot listen to you. Please go away.”