A soldier stood in the shelter of the vehicle and opened the door for the American.

“Hurry!  Get in!” exclaimed Quinnox.

“I wish to know if this is liable to get her into trouble,” demanded Lorry, pausing with one foot on the steps.

“Get in!” commanded the soldier who was holding the door, pushing him forward uneasily.  He floundered into the carriage where all was dry and clean.  In his hand he still carried the keys and the lantern, the slide of which he had closed before leaving the prison yard.  He could not see, but he knew that the trappings of the vehicle were superior.  Outside he heard the soldier, who was preparing to enter, say: 

“This carriage travels on most urgent business for Her Royal Highness, captain.  It is not to be stopped.”

A moment later he was inside and the door slammed.  The carriage rocked as Quinnox swung up beside the driver.

“You may as well be comfortable,” said Lorry’s companion, as he sat rigid and restless.  “We have a long and rough ride before us.”

XIX

THE SOLDIER

Off went the carriage with a dash, the rumbles of its wheels joining in the grewsome roar of the elements.  For some time the two sat speechless, side by side.  Outside the thunder rolled, the rain swirled and hissed, the wind howled and all the horrors of nature seemed crowded into the blackness of that thrilling night.  Lorry wondered vaguely whither they were going, why he had seen no flashes of lightning, if he should ever see her again.  His mind was busy with a thousand thoughts and queries.

“Where are we going?” he asked, after they had traveled half a mile or so.

“To a place of safety,” came the reply from the darkness beside him.

“Thanks,” he said, drily.  “By the way, don’t you have any lightning in this part of the world?  I haven’t seen a flash to-night.”

“It is very rare,” came the brief reply.

“Devilish uncommunicative,” thought Lorry.

After a moment he asked:  “How far do we travel tonight?”

“A number of miles.”

“Then I’m going to take off this wet coat.  It weighs a ton.  Won’t you remove yours?” He jerked off the big rain coat and threw it across to the opposite seat, with the keys and the lantern.  There was a moment’s hesitation on the part of his companion, and then a second wet coat followed the first.  Their rain helmets were also tossed aside.  “Makes a fellow feel more comfortable.”

“This has been too easy to seem like an escape,” went on Lorry, looking back reflectively over the surprises of the night.  “Maybe I am dreaming.  Pinch me.”

A finger and a thumb came together on the fleshy part of his arm, causing him to start, first in amazement, then in pain.  He had not expected his reserved guardian to obey the command literally.