“Right ho! old man,” he replied. “Perhaps I shall run up to town. We want those two new nuts and the sparking-plugs you know, so I can get them. If I go, I shan’t be down till the last train, so send Theed over to Nutley to meet me, won’t you?”
“Right,” I said, and a moment later, with Roseye beside me, I started off down the long narrow wooded lane which led round by a place called Oldlands, and down into Maresfield.
The winter landscape was dull and dispiriting.
We had passed through the little town, and out again upon the Lewes road when, having gone about four miles, we suddenly saw a big dark green limousine standing at the roadside. The chauffeur, whose coat was off, had evidently got tyre-trouble, and, the road at that bend being very narrow, I was compelled to slow down in order to pass.
Beside the car, watching the chauffeur as he worked, was a middle-aged man in a thick drab motor-coat and cap of shepherd’s plaid, while beside him stood a tall, erect woman in furs. The man was idly smoking a cigar end and laughing with the woman, and as we passed the latter turned to gaze at us. In the passing glance I obtained of her I saw that hers was a hard, thin face, with high cheek-bones, an unusually pointed chin, and a curious expression in her eyes.
Somehow—why I cannot tell—I thought she regarded us a little inquisitively.
Next instant Roseye, in breathless fear, clutched at my arm, gasping:
“Quick, Claude! For Heaven’s sake let’s get away!”
“Why?” I asked, much surprised at the sudden terror she had evinced.
“That woman!” cried my love, in a voice of alarm. “Did she see me—do you think she saw me?” she asked, her trembling hand still upon my arm.