The glance struck home, and Mr. Pyle looked at her reproachfully.
“What a question!” he ejaculated. “Of course, I’d trust him with you anywhere. You—you can have anything we’ve got, Mrs. White.”
“That’s perfectly dear of you!” she said, holding out her hand to assist Tommy to climb into the car; then turned to the driver. “Go slowly down the drive,” she said, “so that Tommy’s ride won’t come to an end too soon, and stop at the gates.”
The chauffeur—who was none other than the Count in[Pg 27] disguise—touched his cap, and the car began to move slowly down the drive.
Mr. and Mrs. Pyle walked beside it, responding to Elaine’s lively sallies in their slow, embarrassed way, and feeling several inches taller than they had felt an hour ago.
At last the car reached the gates and turned into the road. Wilhelm glanced ahead and saw that the way was clear, after which he looked back over his shoulder at Elaine, who replied, with an almost imperceptible nod.
Then suddenly the car leaped forward like a thing alive, and the next instant it was thundering along the road with the speed of an express train.
Mr. Pyle let out a cry of alarm, but no thought of treachery crossed his mind.
He merely thought the chauffeur had made a mistake, and had increased the speed of the machine instead of shutting off the power.
“Stop! stop!” he shouted, running after the car. “Shut off your engine and put on your brakes!”