204 GARRYOWEN 



by chance the right road and struck a right-of- 

 way that led through the woods skirting the hill 

 of Crowsnest and bringing him on the road to 

 the downs. 



He ascended the steep path leading to The 

 Martens at full speed, and, out of breath, flushed 

 and perspiring, he was making his way to the 

 bungalow, when he met French, amiable-looking, 

 cool, and smoking a cigar. 



" Hullo! " said French. " What's up? " 



" Everything," said Mr Dashwood. " Don't 

 keep me, Hke a good fellow. I'm off to London." 



" Off to London! Why, I thought you were 

 staying till Monday." 



" I'm not." 



" Where's Miss Grimshaw? " asked French, 

 following the other to the house. " Did you 

 leave her in the village? " 



" No, I left her by the bridge — I mean on the 

 bridge, down there by the river — " 



French followed the young man into his bed- 

 room. Bobby Dashwood, who seemed like a 

 sleeper haK awakened from a horrible nightmare, 

 pulled a kit-bag from the corner of the room and 

 began stuffing it with clothes. 



French took his seat on a chair and puffed his 

 cigar. 



"Botheration! " said French, who saw Love's 

 Despair in the erratic movements of his companion. 

 "Botheration! See here, Dashwood." 



"Yes— oh, what!" 



