I was given no leisure for wondering how Cynthia's mother came tobe in the grounds of Sanstead House, for her companion, almostbefore the car had stopped, jumped out and clutched me by the arm,at the same time uttering this cryptic speech: 'Whatever he offersI'll double!'

　　She fixed me, as she spoke, with a commanding eye. She was a woman,I gathered in that instant, born to command. There seemed, at anyrate, no doubt in her mind that she could command me. If I hadbeen a black beetle she could not have looked at me with a morescornful superiority. Her eyes were very large and of a rich, fierybrown colour, and it was these that gave me my first suspicion ofher identity. As to the meaning of her words, however, I had no clue.

　　'Bear that in mind,' she went on. 'I'll double it if it's amillion dollars.'

　　'I'm afraid I don't understand,' I said, finding speech.

　　She clicked her tongue impatiently.

　　'There's no need to be so cautious and mysterious. This lady is afriend of mine. She knows all about it. I asked her to come. I'mMrs Elmer Ford. I came here directly I got your letter. I thinkyou're the lowest sort of scoundrel that ever managed to keep outof gaol, but that needn't make any difference just now. We're hereto talk business, Mr Fisher, so we may as well begin.'

　　I was getting tired of being taken for Smooth Sam.

　　'I am not Smooth Sam Fisher.'

　　I turned to the automobile. 'Will you identify me, Mrs Drassilis?'

　　She was regarding me with wide-open eyes.

　　'What on earth are you doing down here? I have been tryingeverywhere to find you, but nobody--'

　　Mrs Ford interrupted her. She gave me the impression of being awoman who wanted a good deal of the conversation, and who did notcare how she got it. In a conversational sense she thugged MrsDrassilis at this point, or rather she swept over her like sometidal wave, blotting her out.

　　'Oh,' she said fixing her brown eyes, less scornful now but stillimperious, on mine. 'I must apologize. I have made a mistake. Itook you for a low villain of the name of Sam Fisher. I hope youwill forgive me. I was to have met him at this exact spot justabout this time, by appointment, so, seeing you here, I mistookyou for him.'

　　'If I might have a word with you alone?' I said.

　　Mrs Ford had a short way with people. In matters concerning herown wishes, she took their acquiescence for granted.

　　'Drive on up to the house, Jarvis,' she said, and Mrs Drassiliswas whirled away round the curve of the drive before she knew whathad happened to her.

　　'Well?'

　　'My name is Burns,' I said.

　　'Now I understand,' she said. 'I know who you are now.' Shepaused, and I was expecting her to fawn upon me for my gallantservice in her cause, when she resumed in quite a differentstrain.

　　'I can't think what you can have been about, Mr Burns, not to havebeen able to do what Cynthia asked you. Surely in all these weeksand months.... And then, after all, to have let this Fisherscoundrel steal him away from under your nose...!'