valuables in my possession.

   In the excitement, I had, until this moment, entirely forgotten the presence of Colonel Maitland; and now, looking closely at him, I discovered that he was still in happy ignorance of the

    contretemps

   which had befallen us. Swathed in rugs, he was propped up on the seat behind us slumbering peacefully. A smile was upon his

   rosy face, and ever and again he smacked his lips. He must have been dreaming of a finer vintage than ever terrestrial vineyard produced.

   "What the deuce can we do?" I asked Winter.

   "Hullo, Colonel!" shouted my friend.

   "What's the matter?" inquired the Pirate. "Does your friend refuse to acknowledge the compact?"

   "I'm afraid he can hardly be said to be a party to it," I replied. "He has dined, and now he sleeps."

   "Well, you will awaken him less roughly than I shall," was the retort.

   "Any one who knows Colonel Maitland is aware that he is exceedingly annoyed if awakened from his after-dinner nap," I urged.

   "Colonel Maitland? Colonel Maitland the gourmet?"

   "You know him?" said Winter.

   The Pirate laughed pleasantly. "I have met him on one occasion, and, as some slight return for a very excellent dinner which he ordered, and for which—doubtless by an oversight—he left me to pay, I will not trouble you to awaken him on this occasion. I wish you good evening, gentlemen."

   As he finished speaking he backed his car for a few yards. His hand moved to a lever. The car turned. He waved the hand which was disengaged, and in a moment he was gone, attaining at once a speed, which, until then I had thought it impossible for a motor-car ever to achieve.

   Both Winter and I sat stock still, gazing after the fast disappearing car. We could not watch it for long; as in fifteen seconds it was out of sight, and even the dust-cloud it had raised in its progress had cleared.

   Then Winter turned to me and muttered a few expletives gently in my ear. I followed his example and we 

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