“Good-bye!” he whispered to his second, and flung himself in.

Some one followed him; the door was slammed, and with a mighty throbbing they began to move.

“Rudolph!  Rudolph!” wailed a voice behind them.

“Zank ze goodness she is not here!” exclaimed the Baron.

“Whisht! whisht!” he could hear Dugald expostulate.

With a violent start he turned to the fellow-passenger who had followed him in.

“Are you not Dugald?” he demanded hoarsely.

“No—­it’s—­it’s me!  I dursn’t wait for my dog-cart!”

“Eva!” he murmured.  “Oh, Himmel!  Vat shall I do?”

Only a screen of glass separated his two rescuers, and the one had but to turn her head and look inside, or the other to study with any attention the roll of hair beneath their driver’s cap, in order to lead to most embarrassing consequences.  Not that it was his fault he should receive such universal sympathy:  but would these charming ladies admit his innocence?

“How thoughtful of Dugald to have this car——­” began Eva.

“Hush!” he muttered hoarsely.  “Yes, it was thoughtful, but you most not speak too loudly.”

“For fear——?” she smiled, and turned her eyes instinctively toward their driver.

“Excuse me,” he muttered, sweeping her as gently as possible from her seat and placing her upon the floor.

“It vill not do for zem to see you,” he explained in a whisper.

“How awful a position,” he reflected.  “Oh, I hope it may still be dark ven we get to ze station.”

But with rising concern he presently perceived that the telegraph posts along the roadside were certainly grown plainer already; he could even see the two thin wires against a paling sky; the road behind was visible for half a mile; the hill-tops might no longer be confounded with the clouds-day indubitably was breaking.  Also he recollected that to go from Lincoln Lodge to Torrydhulish Station one had to make a vast detour round half the loch; and, further, began to suspect that though Miss Maddison’s driving was beyond reproach her knowledge of topography was scarcely so dependable.  In point of fact she increased the distance by at least a third, and all the while day was breaking more fatally clear.

To discourage Miss Gallosh’s efforts at conversation, yet keep her sitting contentedly upon the floor; to appear asleep whenever Miss Maddison turned her head and threw a glance inside, and to devise some adequate explanation against the inevitable discovery at the end of their drive, provided him with employment worthy of a diplomatist’s steel.  But now, at last, they were within sight of railway signals and a long embankment; and over a pine wood a stream of smoke moved with a swelling roar.  Then into plain view broke the engine and carriage after carriage racing behind.  Regardless of risk, he leaped from his seat and flung up the window, crying—­