Gibbs was the first to speak. He examined the burst critically, glanced
at the fast disappearing car, and, turning to me, asked:--
"Shall we still try, sir? If you'll help me we'll be on the road again
in twenty minutes."
"Yes," I cried, "let's try," and throwing off my coat, I began in
earnest to take out the spare tyre while he got out the jack and tools.
While I unscrewed the bolts, he jacked up the car, and in ten minutes
the burst tyre was off, and we were adjusting the new one. A new inner
tube I found under the front seat, and we soon adjusted it, Gibbs
pumping it up while I put away the tools and strapped on the broken
tyre.
I glanced at the clock on the car, and saw that we had been just
eighteen minutes, then up we got, and, without much preliminary, moved
away again tearing at breakneck speed through Ottery St Mary and a
dreary little place called Honiton Clyst, then over a bad road among
small and dingy houses from Heavitree into Exeter. At the Gordon
memorial-lamp we took the right-hand road, found the tram-line and
passed up Paris Street into High Street, and on to the cathedral, where
we pulled up before the "Clarence," hoping to obtain some news of the
blue "Mercedes."
It, however, had not been seen. At Pople's, at the "Globe" and the
"Half Moon" we inquired, but without success. The car had not been seen
in any of the main streets of the city, therefore we could only conclude
that it had passed round the outskirts and taken either the Crediton or
the Teignmouth road. From south of the city a dozen different ways lead
off the Okehampton road, therefore it seemed certain that our
unfortunate accident had negatived all our attempts to overtake Mr
Murray and his party.
Again we were thwarted, until Gibbs suddenly recollected that in Paris
Street we had passed a cycle works where petrol was sold, and we turned
the car and made eager inquiry there.
Yes. A big blue car had stopped there, and refilled its tank about an
hour before. The chauffeur had inquired the road to Plymouth, and the
manager had advised him to take the road by Bickington, Buckfastleigh
and Ivybridge. The distance to Plymouth, we were told, was forty-four
miles, therefore thanking our informant we reversed the car and were
soon out again on the old coach-road through Alphington and
Shillingford, hoping that some similar mishap to that which had occurred
to us might delay the party we were endeavouring to overtake.
Again we raced along against time, up over the Great Haldon hills where
we had grand views across the open country, through old-fashioned
villages of the true Devon type, past a quaint old mill with high
sloping roof, and narrowly escaping a collision with a farmer's cart
just as we were entering Bickington.
Twice we inquired of men we met on the road whether they had seen the
car, and each reply was in the affirmative. Therefore we kept an eager
look-out far ahead to distinguish the receding cloud of dust which would
betray its presence.
At full speed we tore along, the motor humming its rhythmic music and
the dust rising in a dense column behind. I shrewdly suspect that
before starting Gibbs had smeared a little oil across part of the number
both front and rear, in order that the dust should render it puzzling to
any lurking constable.
"If we don't get fined for this, sir, we ought to," declared Gibbs, with
a laugh, looking at me through his goggles, as we sped across a
wide-open stretch of moor with the head-wind blowing the white dust full
in our faces. Down a steep hill we ran until, rounding a sudden bend in
the road, an exclamation of joy escaped us both, as we saw the car that
had evaded us so long, stationary.
The chauffeur was in the act of putting in a new inner tube to one of
the back tyres, while the passengers had descended and were walking
about the road. A couple of farm labourers were looking on, their hands
stuck idly in their pockets, and as we approached all turned to look.
My first impulse was to stop and greet Ella, but next instant it
occurred to me that as I wore goggles, and an overcoat that she had
never seen, I was effectively disguised.
"Slow down, but don't stop," I said to Gibbs, and a few moments later we
passed the party, without, however, taking any notice of them.
The car was, as the man beside me had said, a splendid "Mercedes" of the
latest type, one of the best I had ever seen upon the road. The
chauffeur was a smart fellow in uniform, probably French, and the party
who were awaiting the repairs consisted of Ella--in a neat
champagne-coloured motor-coat, with flat hat and a veil of the same
colour with a plate of talc in front instead of glasses--a dark-haired
lady somewhat older, also in motor clothes, a youngish man with a round
boyish clean-shaven face, and lastly Mr Murray. The latter had so
altered that had I met him in the street I should certainly not have
recognised him. His beard was now white, his hair grey, and upon his
face was a hard careworn look, in place of the easy nonchalant air he
wore in those well-remembered days when I had been a welcome guest at
Wichenford.
Ella was seated upon a stile chatting to her female companion, while her
father was standing on the road some distance away, in earnest
conversation with the young man.
Owing to my disguising dark goggles, I was able to look straight into
their faces without fear of recognition. This was fortunate, for at
present I had no intention of revealing my identity.
Could that round-faced, fresh-complexioned man be the fellow who,
according to my love's own admission, held her in his power?
The very suspicion maddened me, causing my blood to rise.
Murray appeared to be speaking to him in confidence, giving him certain
instructions to which he was enlisting attentively, with brows knit, as
though what he heard was far from reassuring.
Who was the man?
His identity and his relation towards my well-beloved I determined to
ascertain.
"Let's go on slowly into the next place, whatever it is," I said.
"We're about five miles from Ashburton, sir," Gibbs replied.
"I want them to overtake us, and then we can follow them to their
destination," I said.
"They're going to Plymouth. Wouldn't it be better for us to go on there
an' wait for 'em?" suggested the man. "It's now five o'clock, and
they'll probably put up there for the night."
"No. They are going farther than Plymouth," I said. "It's a thousand
pities you can't remember where the chauffeur said they were going."
"Perhaps the ladies 'ull want tea. If so, they'll probably pull up at
the `Golden Lion,' just as we go into Ashburton. It's the place where
the coaches stop."
"Then let's stop there. If they also pull up, well and good. If they
don't, we can follow them," I said, and five minutes later we came to a
standstill before the inn where, at the back, I found a delightful
garden sloping down towards the valley, where the blaze of colour and
the scent of flowers were refreshing after the heat and dust of the
great highway. Without removing my goggles I cast myself into a seat,
and ordered a glass of "shandygaff." Gibbs I had left outside with the
car, ordering him to come and tell me when the party passed. That
peaceful old garden was just the place in which to sit on a hot summer's
afternoon with all sight and sound of town shut out; only the green
hills opposite and their all-pervading fragrance.
Suddenly, from where I sat, I heard the whirr of an approaching car
which came to a standstill before the inn. Would Ella come through into
the garden?
I did not wish to meet her with her friends. It was my desire to see
her alone. Therefore I jumped to my feet and walked away to the farther
end of the garden.
As I expected they came, all four of them, seated themselves at the
table I had just vacated, and ordered tea.
For five minutes or so I watched them. Ella, with her veil raised, was
talking and laughing merrily with the round-faced young man, while he,
bending towards her across the table, appeared fascinated by her glance.
I bit my lip, and turning, made my way through the inn and out into the
road, where both cars were standing, and both chauffeurs were gossiping.
For another five minutes I waited, then Gibbs, approaching me, touched
his cap, and inquired if I were ready, adding under his breath:--
"I've found out where they're goin', sir. There's some mystery about
them, I believe. I'll tell you when we get away."