Beryl of the Biplane by William Le Queux — Read

The wintry night was dark and moonless. There was a slight ground mist -- and consequently no wind.

Ronald Pryor returned to Harbury Court late for dinner, where Beryl and her sister awaited him. He had had a fagging day in London, spending nearly half his time with officials of the Air Department, who had at last become interested in his new engine silencer. Trials of it had been made at Farnborough and elsewhere, and proof of its effectiveness had been quite adequate.