second corner, she got a shock, for a man was standing there, with the clear intention of barring her way.
The next instant she had recognised him.
“Superintendent Battle! You did give me a fright!”
“That’s what I’m here for,” said the Superintendent pleasantly.
Bundle looked at him. It struck her now, as so often before, how remarkably little camouflage there was about him. He was large and solid and noticeable. He was, somehow, very English. But of one thing Bundle was quite sure. Superintendent Battle was no fool.
“What are you really doing here?” she asked, still in a whisper.
“Just seeing,” said Battle, “that nobody’s about who shouldn’t be.”
“Oh!” said Bundle, rather taken aback.
“You, for instance, Lady Eileen. I don’t suppose you usually take a walk at this time of night.”
“Do you mean,” said Bundle slowly, “that you want me to go back?”
Superintendent Battle nodded approvingly.
“You’re very quick, Lady Eileen. That’s just what I do mean. Did you—er—come out of a door, or the window?”
“The window. It’s easy as anything climbing down this ivy.”
Superintendent Battle looked up at it thoughtfully.
“Yes,” he said. “I should say it would be.”
“And you want me to go back?” said Bundle. “I’m rather sick about that. I wanted to go round on to the west terrace.”