“I must walk a bit, I think. I feel so excited. Drop me in the park, will you? Unless you’d like to come too?” “I want to get some petrol,” he explained. “And send off a cable or two.” “All right. I’ll meet you at the Ritz at seven. We’ll have to dine upstairs. I can’t show myself in these glad rags.” “Sure. I’ll get Felix help me choose the menu. He’s some head waiter, that. So long.” Tuppence walked briskly along towards the Serpentine, first glancing at her watch. It was nearly six o’clock. She remembered that she had had no tea, but felt too excited to be conscious of hunger. She walked as far as Kensington Gardens and then slowly retraced her steps, feeling infinitely better for the fresh air and exercise. It was not so easy to follow Sir James’s advice, and put the possible event

