Page:Alice Stuyvesant - The Vanity Box.djvu/232

 whence he had come, and the real name of the coachman. The fellow would then be called upon to prove his identity; and if unable to satisfy the police, he must remain in their hands until Michel had tightened the cords.

All being settled between the men, it was arranged that the first step should be taken the following morning, unless the detective from Scotland Yard made a fortunate coup meanwhile; but of doing this he had few hopes.

He said to himself that the sight of Sir Ian Hereward at St. Pierre de Chartreuse had given Miss Verney a shock. Evidently Miss Ricardo had not told her that she expected him; for that the meeting was pre-arranged between the two, Michel had not a doubt.

He thought the girl was evidently alarmed for the safety of her lover. She would now fear to have Sir Ian see the Italian driver lest, knowing him well, he would recognize Ian Barr. If this theory were correct, what was her first act likely to be? Michel asked himself. Naturally, she would communicate with Barr as soon as possible, perhaps making an excuse to send for the driver, and give him instructions for next day. Once with him, she would warn him that Sir Ian had arrived.

Michel was sure that this was what would happen, and that it would happen before midnight. He did not believe that Miss Verney would bring Barr into