quotation from ancient Pistol, "My fury shall abate, and I the crowns will take," then aloud to Henri:
"Tell Cook's man—the name is suggestive—to take you to one of the big restaurants where there is music, and give you all a lunch. Return here promptly at four, and then prepare a car for a long ride into the country."
At that hour the visitors once more presented themselves to Stranleigh, saying they had had the time of their lives. After tea the automobile was again ready for them, and Stranleigh, quite unrecognisable in goggles and fur coat, got in with them. The delegation was a little anxious about the train, but when Stranleigh learned it did not leave London till eight o'clock, he assured them they would have ample time to see a bit of the country, and be at the terminus before the hour of departure.
Once clear of the London suburbs, Henri, at the instigation of his master, put on a speed entirely unsanctioned by law, slowing down only when approaching a town or a village. The Stranleigh luck accompanied the vehicle, for it fell into no police traps, although the speed and the oncoming of evening began to make Stranleigh's guests exceedingly uneasy. How they ever were to get back to London in time for the excursion train, none of them knew, and Stiles felt a delicacy at mentioning their quandary, having previously spoken to Lord Stranleigh about their anxiety on that score.
