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〃Miss Gallosh！〃
Nor is it less impossible to supply the significance of Eleanor's intonation。
〃Ladies； ladies！〃 he implored； 〃do not； I pray you； misunderstand！ I vas not responsibleI could not help it。 You both VOULD come mit me！ No； no； do not look so at me！ I mean not zatI mean I could not do vizout both of you。 Ach； Himmel！ Vat do I say？ I should say zatzat〃
He broke off with a start of apprehension。
〃Look！ Zere comes a man mit a bicycle！ Zis is too public！ Come mit me into ze station and I shall eggsplain！ He waves his fist！ Come！ you vould not be seen here？〃
He offered one arm to Eva； the other to Eleanor； and so alarming were the gesticulations of the approaching cyclist； and so beseeching the Baron's tones； that without more ado they clung to him and hurried on to the platform。
〃Come to ze vaiting…room！〃 he whispered。 〃Zere shall ve be safe！〃
Alack for the luck of the Baron von Blitzenberg！ Out of the very door they were approaching stepped a solitary lady； sole passenger from the south train； and at the sight of those three； linked arm in arm； she staggered back and uttered a cry more piercing than the engine's distant whistle。
〃Rudolph！〃 cried this lady。
〃Alicia！〃 gasped the Baron。
His rescuers said nothing； but clung to him the more tightly； while in the Baroness's startled eyes a harder light began to blaze。
〃Who are these； Rudolph？〃
He cleared his throat； but the process seemed to take some time； and in the meanwhile he felt the grip of his deliverers relax。
〃Who is that lady？〃 demanded Eleanor。
〃His wife；〃 replied the Baroness。
The Baron felt his arms freed now； but still his Alicia waited an answer。 It came at last； but not from the Baron's lips。
〃Well； here you all are！〃 said a cheerful voice behind them。
CHAPTER XXXVII
They turned as though they expected to see an apparition。 Nor was the appearance of the speaker calculated to disappoint such expectations。 Their startled eyes beheld indeed the most remarkable figure that had ever wheeled a bicycle down the platform of Torrydhulish Station。 Hatless； in evening clothes with blue lapels upon the coat； splashed liberally with mud； his feet equipped only with embroidered socks and saturated pumps； his shirt…front bestarred with souvenirs of all the soils for thirty miles； Count Bunker made a picture that lived long in their memories。 Yet no foolish consciousness of his plight disturbed him as he addressed the Baron。
〃Thank you； Baron； for escorting my fair friends so far。 I shall now take them off your hands。〃
He smiled with pleasant familiarity upon the two astonished girls； and then started as though for the first time he recognized the Baroness。
〃Baroness！〃 he cried； bowing profoundly； 〃this is a very unexpected pleasure！ You came by the early train； I presume？ A tiresome journey； isn't it？〃
But bewilderment and suspicion were all that he could read in reply。
〃Whatwhat are YOU doing here？〃
He was not in the least disconcerted。
〃Meeting my cousins〃 （he indicated the Misses Gallosh and Maddison with an amiable glance）； 〃whom the Baron has been kind enough to look after till my arrival。〃
Audaciously approaching more closely； he added； in a voice intended for her ear and the Baron's alone
〃I must throw myself； I see； upon your mercy； and ask you not to tell any tales out of school。 Cousins； you know； don't always want their meetings advertised do they； Baron？〃
Alicia's eyes softened a little。
〃Then； they are really your〃
〃Call 'em cousins； please！ I have your pledge that you won't tell？ Ah； Baron； your charming wife and I understand one another。〃
Then raising his voice for the benefit of the company generally
〃Well； you two will want to have a little talk in the waiting…room； I've no doubt。 We shall pace the platform。 Very fit Rudolph's looking； isn't he； Baroness？ You've no idea how his lungs have strengthened。〃
〃His lungs！〃 exclaimed the Baroness in a changed voice。
Giving the Baron a wink to indicate that there lay the ace of trumps； he answered reassuringly
〃When you learn how he has improved you'll forgive me； I'm sure； for taking him on this little trip。 Well； see you somewhere down the line； no doubtI'm going by the same train。〃
He watched them pass into the waiting…room； and then turned an altered face to the two dumbfounded girls。 It was expressive now solely of sympathy and contrition。
〃Let us walk a little this way；〃 he began； and thus having removed them safely from earshot of the waiting… room door； he addressed himself to the severest part of his task。
〃My dear girls； I owe you I don't know how many apologies for presuming to claim you as my friends。 The acuteness of the emergency is my only excuse； and I throw myself most contritely upon your mercy！〃
This second projection of himself upon a lady's mercy proved as successful as the first。
〃Well；〃 said Eleanor slowly； 〃I guess maybe we can forgive you for that； but what I want to know iswhat's happened？who's who？and where just exactly are we？〃
〃That's just what I want to know too；〃 added Eva sadly。
Indeed； they both had a hint of tears in their eyes； and in their voices。
〃What has happened；〃 replied the Count； 〃is that a couple of thoughtless masqueraders came up here to play a little joke； and succeeded in getting themselves into a scrape。 For your share in getting us out of it we cannot feel too grateful。〃
〃But； who is？〃 the girls began together； and then stopped； with a rise of color and a suspicion of displeasure in their interchange of eyes。
〃Who is who？ Well； my friend is the Baron von Blitzenberg； and the lady is； as she stated； his wife。〃
〃Then all this time〃 began Eva。
〃He was married！〃 Eleanor finished for her。 〃Oh； the heartless scoundrel！ To think that I rescued him！〃
〃I wouldn't have either！〃 said Eva； 〃I mean if if I had known he treated you so badly。〃
〃Treated ME！ I was only thinking of YOU； Miss Gallosh！〃
〃Dear ladies！〃 interposed the Count with his ready tact； 〃remember his excuse。〃
〃His excuse？〃
〃The beauty； the charm； the wit of the lady who took by storm a heart not easily captured！ He himself； poor fellow； thought it love…proof； but he had not then met HER。 Think mercifully of him！〃
He was so careful to give no indication which of the rival belles was 〃her；〃 that each was able to take to herself a certain mournful consolation。
〃That wasn't MUCH excuse；〃 said Eleanor； yet with a less vindictive air。
〃Certainly not VERY much；〃 murmured Eva。
〃He ought to have thought of the pain he was giving HER；〃 added Eleanor。
〃Yes；〃 said Eva。 〃Indeed he ought！〃
〃Yes； that is true；〃 allowed the Count； 〃but remember his punishment！ To be married already now proves to be less his fault than his misfortune。〃
By this time he had insidiously led them back to their car。
〃And must you return at once？〃 he exclaimed。
〃We had better；〃 said Eleanor； with a suspicion of a sigh。 〃Miss Gallosh； I'll drive you home first。〃
〃You're too kind； Miss Maddison。〃
〃Oh； no！〃
The Count assisted them in； greatly pleased to see this amicable spirit。 Then shaking hands heartily with each； he said
〃I can speak for my friend with conviction； because my own regard for the lady in question is as deep and as sincere as his。 Believe me； I shall never forget her！〃
He was rewarded with two of the kindest smiles ever bestowed upon him； and as they drove away each secretly wondered why she had previously preferred the Baron to the Count。 It seemed a singular folly。
〃Two deuced nice girls；〃 mused he； 〃I do believe I told 'em the truth in every particular！〃
He watched their car dwindle to a scurrying speck； and then strolled back thoughtfully to purchase his ticket。
He found the signals down； and the far…off clatter of the train distinctly audible through the early morning air。 A few minutes more and he was stepping into a first…class compartment； his remarkable costume earning （he could not but observe） the pronounced attention of the guard。 The Baron and Alicia； with an air of mutual affection； entered another； both the doors were closed； everything seemed ready； yet the train lingered。
〃Start ze train！ Start ze train！ I vill give you a poundtwo poundtree pound； to start him！〃
The Count leaped up and thrust his head through the window。
〃What the dickens！〃 thought he。
Hanging out of the other window he beheld the clamant Baron urging the guard with frenzied entreaty。
〃But they're wanting to go by the train； sir；〃 said the guard。
〃No； no。 Zey do not！ It is a mistake！ Start him！〃
Following their gaze he saw； racing toward them； the cause of their delay。 It was a motor car； yet not the same that had so lately departed。 In this were seated a young man and an elderly lady； both waving to hold back the train； and to his vast amazement he recognized in the man Darius Maddison； junior； in the lady the Countess of Grillyer。
The car stopped； the occupants alighted； and the Countess； supported on the strong arm of Ri； scuttled down the platform。
〃Bonker； take her in mit you！〃 groaned the Baron； and his head vanished from the Count's sight。
Even this ordeal was not too m