I couldn't see the hollow or the water or you. And you know, you did step straight onto the drive without pausing.'

'Oh, that's right. Motor like a lunatic, half-drown me, and then blame me.'

'I was not motoring like a lunatic and I am not blaming you. I'm merely exonerating myself. It was an accident.' He was starting to sound cross.

'I sincerely hope it was an accident! Because if I thought you did it on purpose—'

'Oh, don't be such an idiot.' He swallowed and apparently with something of an effort, said quietly: 'Are you going up to the house? If so, can I give you a lift?'

'No thank you. I think I'll be safer if I stay a considerable distance from you.'

'Just as you wish.' He slammed the car into gear, accelerated, and let in the clutch - just a little too rapidly.

Now, while they had been talking, the water from the puddle, having spread itself over a larger area when the car first passed through it, had been soaking into the surface of the drive around the rear wheels. The result could have been anticipated: as the wheels spun fiercely Jane was comprehensively sprayed by a fine cloud of muddy specks.

The young man looked round, realised what he had done, made as if to stop again, seemed to think better of it, and roared away.

Jane stood quite still. The only word she managed to get out was a long drawn Out 'O-oh.' Then she started to march up the drive, muttering imprecations against all motorists. After a few minutes, however, her anger gave way to misery, and she found herself blinking back tears. Absurd to get so upset. And she'd made a bit of a fool of herself, too, by flying out at him like that. But she hadn't been able to help it. She was going to arrive at Alderley looking like a drowned rat. Moreover, her feet and legs had taken the worst of the deluge, and in her traps, now presumably at the house, reposed the only other pair of silk stockings she possessed in the world. She would have to change into them as soon as she arrived; and if they should ladder before she had a chance to get the ones she was now wearing washed and dried, she would have to borrow a pair from Gerry. Humiliating.

Before Jane got in sight of the house she stopped, cleaned her face as best she could with her handkerchief, applied some powder and lipstick, and ran a comb through her hair. Having done this, she felt a little better. But not a lot.

When she approached the house she was tempted to avoid the front and to enter by a rear door. But this would entail a long march, round the stables and orangery and through the kitchen garden - and then she would have to find a servant to notify her hosts of her arrival. So she strode up the shallow steps, past the huge Doric columns, to the great front doors, and rang the bell.

The door was opened almost immediately by the pontifical Merryweather. 'Good afternoon, miss.'

'Hullo, Merryweather,' Jane said, going into the big, oak-panelled hall. 'How are you?'

'I am in my usual excellent health, thank you, miss. May I take the liberty of enquiring after your own?'

'Oh, I'm pretty fit, but as you can see wet and dirty. I had a contretemps with a - a—' Jane gulped, 'a gentleman in a red tourer.'

'Yes, miss. Mr. Deveraux explained there had been a slight accident.'

'Oh dear,' Jane said. 'Tell me, Merryweather - is he a guest here?'

'Yes, miss.'

'Crumbs. I hoped he was just calling about the drains or something. Do you know if he's a great friend of the family?'

'I believe not, miss. He is here professionally rather than socially.