"They had a cab instead of a car or taxi. We got in and drove up
Fourteenth to H, and out H to Sixteenth. As we swung in Sixteenth, the
man leaned forward to the window on my side.

"'Look at that!' he exclaimed excitedly.

"As I turned to look, the woman flung her silk wrap over my head and
twisted it tightly about my neck.

"I tried to cry out, but a hand closed over my mouth and only a weak
gurgle responded.

"'Listen, Mrs. Clephane!' said the man, 'We mean you no harm. Give us
the package you have for the French Ambassador, and we will at once
return you to your hotel.'

"I'm pretty much a coward, yet I managed to hold myself together and not
faint, and to say nothing. I didn't care a straw for the letter, but I
didn't fancy being defeated at that stage of the game. I tried to
think--but thinking is a bit difficult under such circumstances. Just as
the wrap went over my head, my hand happened to be on my hand-bag. I
quietly opened it, dropped the letter close along the seat, and closed
the bag. Here was a slight chance to balk them--at all events, it was
the only course occurring to me at the moment.

"'Has she fainted?' asked the man.

"'I think so,' said the woman, 'or she is scared to death.'

"Here was a suggestion--and I took it. I remained perfectly quiet.