But his speech ended suddenly at this point, for Westerham, always quick to action, took quick action now.
Moving round the trunk of the tree, he caught the man deftly by the collar of his coat, kicked his heels from under him, and brought him with a heavy crash to the ground.
The man lay still.
In a second Westerham was on his knees beside the prostrate figure. With swift fingers he searched the man's clothing and found a mass of jewels in the breast-pocket of the man's outer coat.
In a twinkling he had them out, and, rising to his feet, he held a heavy string of diamonds towards the girl.
“Madam,” he cried, “permit me to befriend you. I do not know who you are, but—”
His voice trailed away into a little gasp. For the frightened face that stared at him with starting eyes was the face of the girl in the picture.
In this strange manner did Westerham meet Lady Kathleen Carfax.