Having made a copy of this letter, she called Simmons and Fulton and gave them their instructions.  There had been an accident, she said, of which she had been able to get only imperfect information, but it seemed possible that Miss Dorothea was involved in it.  She herself was hurrying to Lakefield, and it would be Simmons’ task to find Mr. Pruyn in time for him to catch the ten-five train, at latest.  He was to pack two valises with all that Mr. Pruyn could require for a change.  He was to take one of the two letters, and one of the two valises, and go from place to place, until he tracked his master down.  Fulton was to say nothing to alarm the other servants, merely informing Miss Dorothea’s maid that the young lady was absent for the night and that Mrs. Eveleth was with her.  He would take charge of the second letter and the second valise, in case Mr. Pruyn should return to the house before Simmons could find him.  The important charge of the telephone was also to be in Fulton’s trust, and he was to answer all calls through the night.  In concluding her directions Diane acknowledged her relief in having two lieutenants on whose silence, energy, and tact she could so thoroughly depend.  She committed the matter to their hands not merely as to Mr. Pruyn’s butler and valet, but as to his trusted friends, and in that capacity she was sure they would do their duty and hold their tongues.

In a similar spirit, when she arrived, about half-past nine, at the Bay Tree Inn, she asked for the manager, and took him into her confidence.  A runaway marriage, she informed him, had been planned to take place that very night at Lakefield, and she had come there as the companion and friend of a motherless girl, her object being to postpone the ceremony.

The manager listened with sympathy, and promised his help.  As a matter of fact, a gentleman had arrived, driving his own motor, that very afternoon.  He had put the machine in the garage, and taken a room, but had not registered.  Their season having scarcely begun, and the hotel being empty, they were somewhat careless about such formalities.  He could only say that the young man was tall, fair, and slender, and seemed to be a person of means.  He believed, too, that at this very minute he was smoking on the terrace before the door.  If Diane had not come up by another way she must have met him.  She could step out on the terrace and see for herself whether it was the person she was looking for or not.

Being tolerably sure of that already, Diane preferred to complete her arrangements first.  She would ask for a room as near as possible to the main door of the hotel, so that when the young lady arrived she could be ushered directly into it.  Fortunately the establishment was able to offer her exactly what she required, one of the invalids’ suites which were a special feature of the house—­a little sitting-room and bedroom for the use of persons whose infirmities made a long walk between their own apartments and the sun-parlor inadvisable.  Having inspected and accepted it, Diane bathed her face and smoothed her hair, after which she stepped out to confront Mr. Wappinger.