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were walking down Southampton Row. When this was safely passed,
she began to feel comparatively at ease. Haeberlein thought they
might take a cab.
Not a hansom, she said, quickly, as he was on the point of
hailing one. You would be so much more exposed, you know!
Haeberlein extolled her common sense, and they secured a
fourwheeler and drove to Cannon Street.
Talking now became more possible. Haeberlein leaned far back in
the corner, and spoke in low tones.
Thou has been my salvation, Erica, he said, pressing her hand.
That fellow would never have let me pass in the Italian costume.
Thou wert right as usual, it was theatrical how do you call stagey,
is it not?
I am a little troubled about your mouth, said Erica, smiling,
the mustache doesn't disguise it, and it looks so goodtempered
and like itself. Can't you feel severe just for half an hour?
Haeberlein smiled his irresistibly sweet smile, and tried to comply
with her wishes, but not very successfully.
I think, said Erica, presently, it will be the best way, if you
don't mind, for you just to stroll through the booking office while
I take your ticket. I can meet you by the book stall and I will
still talk for us both in case you betray your accent.
HERZBLATTCHEN! exclaimed Haeberlein, how shall I ever repay
thee! Thou art a real canny little Scot! I only wish I had half
thy caution and forethought!
Don't look like that! said Erica, laughing, as the benignant
expression once more came over his lips. You really must try to
turn down the corners! Your character is a silent, morose
misanthrope. I am the chatter box, pure and simple.
They were both laughing when they drew near to the station, but a
sense of the risk sobered Haeberlein, and Erica carried out her
programme to perfection. It was rather a shock to her, indeed, to
find a detective keenly inspecting all who went to the ticket
office. He stood so close to the pigeon hole that Erica doubted
whether Herr Haeberlein's eyebrows, improved though they were,
could possibly have escaped detection. It required all her self
command to prevent her color from rising and her fingers from
trembling as she received the ticket and change under that steady
scrutiny. Then she passed out on to the platform and found that
Herr Haeberlein had been wise enough to buy the paper which least
sympathized with his views, and in a few minutes he was safely
disposed in the middle of a wellfilled carriage.
Erica took out her watch. There were still three minutes before
the train started, three long, interminable minutes! She looked
down the platform, and her heart died within her; for, steadily

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