They had almost reached the town, in fact had passed some small houses, the dwelling-places of carriage proprietors and washerwomen, when a girl stepped out of a doorway some distance ahead of them.  She glanced in their direction, then stared.

“There’s Denah,” Julia said; she did not speak with consternation though Denah was about the last person she wanted to see just then.  Consternation is a waste of time and energy when you are found out, a bold face and immediate actions are usually best.  Julia waved her hand in cheerful greeting to the Dutch girl.

But Denah did not return the greeting; instead, after her stare of astonished recognition, she turned and set off up the road towards where it joined a more important street with trams, which ran into the town.

“Hulloah?” Julia said softly, and quick as thought she turned too, and the hand that had waved to Denah was signaling to a carriage which at that moment drove out of a stable-yard near.  A light had come into her eyes, a dancing light like the gleam on a sword-blade.  There was a little wee smile about her lips, too, which somehow brought to Rawson-Clew’s mind a man he once knew who had sung softly to himself all the time he prepared for the brigands who were known to be about to rush his camp.

“She’ll take a tram,” Julia said gaily, looking towards the speeding figure; “she is too careful to waste her money even to spite any one of whom she is jealous.”

The cab drew up, and Julia, not failing to see Denah fulfil her words at the junction of the street, got in.  Rawson-Clew followed her.  She would have prevented him.

“Don’t come,” she said; “I don’t want you.  Good-bye.”

But he insisted.  “I certainly am coming,” he said, and ordered the man to drive on into the town, telling Julia to give the address.

She did so, weighing in her mind the while the chances of Rawson-Clew’s knowledge of Dutch being equal to following all that was said when three people spoke at once, all of them in a great state of excitement.  She thought it was possible he would not master every detail, but at the same time she did not wish him to try; it would be insupportable to have him dragged into this, and in return for his kindness to her have a dozen vulgar and ridiculous things said and insinuated.

“Look here,” she said, “there is not any need for you to come, I can do better without you, I can indeed.  I have got to explain things, of course, but, as I told you before, I have had some practice at dodging and explaining.  I shall reach the Van Heigens’ before Denah, so I shall get the first hearing, that’s all I want, I can explain beautifully.”

“You cannot explain me away,” Rawson-Clew answered.  “I know I was not to have figured in the original account, that is obvious, but it is equally obvious that I must figure in this one.  I prefer to give it myself.”

“Oh, but that won’t do at all!” Julia said.  “Please leave it to me, it would be nothing to me, I am used to tight places, and it would be an insufferable annoyance to you.  I really don’t want you to suffer for your kindness to me—­you have no idea what absurd and ridiculous things they will say.”