Free She Painted her Face by Dornford Yates

request."
    "Fate brought you to Brief this morning, no doubt about that. But that is as much as she did. What you and I did thereafter, we did of our own free wm. I don't know why we did it, because my memory's gone. And I'm sorry for that, for I'd very much like to know why we did as we did. Of course, I can't answer for you. You may make a practice of making 'unusual requests.' But it isn't my way to grant them— to men I don't know."
    "I've told you I— "
    "I know. I don't value your opinion. As a man of action you're splendid. You really are. But motives are rather beyond you. You wouldn't know one If you saw it, and that's the truth." I suppose I looked crestfallen, for she laughed and laid a hand on my arm. "And I like you for that. Oh, and try to forget you're a stranger! Let's say we made friends this morning— in the dream that I can't recapture. Though you're not clear about it. I'm practically certain we did."
    I thought of her sitting In the bracken, with her dark hair tumbled about her beautiful face, and of how she had said "I trust you," with her steady eyes upon mine.
    "I'd like to believe that," I said. 'And so I shall, if you do."
    Lady Caroline set her chin in the air.
    "You speak as though we'd both had concussion. Or is your memory short?"
    "No, it isn't," said I, and got up. "But I can't get away from the feeling that this morning oughtn't to count, because your memory's gone. It's difficult to explain. But we did make friends all right— without any ceremony, as children do."
    "That s better." she said She put up her hands and I drew her up to her feet. "You see, if you're to finance me you've simply got to forget that I am the Countess of Brief."
    I broke at that
    "You're Caroline Virgil to me— and will be as long as I live!"
    A glorious smile swept into her precious face.
    "That's more like it," she said. 'And now you shall give me some tea. And I'd like to meet Mr. Herrick and hear if my mother was half as sweet as she looked."
    We were, I suppose, some twenty yards from the house, when, happening to glance to the east, I saw a flash in the distance between the trees. One flash, that was all. But, as I saw it, I think that my heart stood still.
    I knew what it was— that glitter, and whence it came. It was the screen of some car reflecting the afternoon sun. and it came from the road of approach that led to the farm.

    THERE is at Raven a window, twelve feet from the farm's front door. Masked by one ; of its curtains, I watched a car approach and sweep to the foot of the steps. On the other side of the
    window. Herrick was standing still, . with his back to the wall.
    In the car were four men. Two were strangers to me, one seemed faintly familiar, and Percy Virgil himself had the driving-wheel.
    I shot a glance at Herrick and wondered what was to come.
    Virgil switched off his engine and wiped his sinister face. Then he followed his fellows out of the car.
    I heard the front door opened and before they had reached the steps.
    Then:
    "Good evening. Brenda," said Virgil. "I'm afraid I've some serious news. My cousin's been taken kidnapped."
    Brenda snapped at her cue.
    "The Lady Caroline? Kidnapped?"
    "It's true enough. I'm afraid. Her horse came in without her-this morning at six o'clock. At first we thought she'd been thrown, but it's worse than that. We found clear signs of a struggle in one of the rides."
    I heard Brenda draw in her breath. Then:
    "But who would—"
    "That," said Percy, "is what we want to find out. This is a sergeant of police, with one of his men." He turned to the strangers. "This girl is Brenda Revoke."
    The sergeant stepped forward.
    "We are seeking to trace two strangers lately seen near Brief in a fine grey car.'' He Jerked his hand at the man whom I thought I knew. "This blacksmith saw them in Gola four days ago. And other people have seen them this side of Brief."
    Brenda laughed.
    "You mean our visitors?"
    "There you are," said Virgil. "What did I say?"
    "We do not