Van smiled. "I might be tempted to rob a gentleman," he said, "but to
deprive your passengers of your company would be a charity. Pray waste
no more of your precious time if that is your only concern."

Beth had regained a shadow of her former composure. Her courage had
never been absent. She was less alarmed than before and decidedly
curious as to what this encounter might signify. She dared address the
horseman.

"But--but surely--you seem---- You must have some excellent reason
for--for acting so peculiarly."

He could not repress the brightness in his eyes as he met her
half-appealing gaze.

"Reason, advice, and information would apparently be alike unwelcome to
your chauffeur," he answered, doffing his hat. "He is eager to hasten on
his way, therefore by all means let us bid him begone."

Bostwick grew rapidly wilder at each intimation of his social standing--a
friend of the maid, and Beth's chauffeur! His impatience to proceed with
all possible haste to Goldite was consuming. He had not intended that
anything under the sun should delay him another single hour--not even
Beth, should occasion arise to detain her. Even now he was far more
concerned about himself and the business of his mission than he was for
the women in his charge. He was much afraid, however, of the horseman's
visible gun. He was not at all a person of courage, and the man before
him presented such an unknown quantity that he found himself more or less
helpless. At most he could merely attempt a bluff.