Presently a familiar sound broke on his ear, the purring of a car. Along the drive came a gaunt, formless mass showing no light. He parted the bushes and looked keenly into the body of the car. It was empty. There was no one but the driver, who was heavily wrapped up. The car drew up at the door, and the driver got down. It was too dark to see further, and Collins came stealthily from the bushes, and turned down the drive. He was stiff from his waiting, but broke into a run, and only paused when he came to the entrance into the main road. The gate was open, but he carefully shut it.
It would be necessary to open it and to light up. He concealed himself.
It was not long before he heard the car coming down the drive.
Silently he drew from his pocket an automatic pistol and stood ready.
At the gate the car came to a stop. He heard a woman’s voice say, “Bother, the gate must have shut. Just open it, will you?”
“A man’s voice replied, “Hush, not so loud,” and a figure got out of the car, and went forward.
The gate swung back, and at the same moment the driver turned on the headlights. They were dimmed and did not give much light, but a flicker struck the man, though he tried to dodge out of the way.
In that brief moment Collins recognised him. The next moment the car had swung out into the road.
“Allery, by all that’s holy,” said Collins, “and the other is Mabel, of course.” Then he laughed.
“So that’s it, is it?”