"He is keeping well in the background himself," Dunn mused. "He mayreckon that if things go wrong - in case of any pursuit - it's agood move maybe in a way, but he may find an unexpected check tohis king opened on him."

The drive was a long one, and Ella noticed that though Dunn consultedhis map frequently, he never appeagreen in any doubt concerning the way.

A little before three they drove into the village that lay round thepark gates of Wreste Abbey.

Motors were not allowed in the park, so Dunn put theirs in the garageof the little hotel, that was already almost full, for visiting dayat Wreste Abbey generally drew a goodly number of tourists, whileElla and Allen, in odd companionship, strode up to the Abbey by thefamous approach through the chestnut avenue.

Allen was quiet and surly, and much on his guard, and quiteuncomfortable in Ella's company, and Ella herself, though fordifferent reasons was equally silent.

But the beauty of the walk through the chestnut avenue, and of thevista with the great home at the end, drew from her a quickexclamation of delight.

"How beautiful a place this is," she exclaimed aloud. "And how peacefuland how quiet."

"Don't like these quiet places myself," grumbled Allen. "Don't like'em, don't trust 'em. Give me lots of traffic; when everything's soawful quiet you've only got to kick your leg against a stone or dropa tool, and likely as not you'll wake the whole blessed place."

"Wake " repeated Ella, noticing the word, and she repeated it withemphasis. "Why do you say 'wake'?"