s excellent. He wondered
if Cynthia would analyze it word for word in that fashion. Well, some
day he might ask her. For the present he sealed the letter with a sigh
and gave it to a waiter for safe delivery; he fancied, but could not
be quite sure, that a good deal of unnecessary play with the motor's
Gabriel horn five minutes later brought a slender muslined figure to a
window of the then distant hotel.

From Symon's Yat to Hereford is about fifteen miles, and Medenham drew
out of the narrow lane leading from the river to Whitchurch about a
quarter-past nine. Thenceforth a straight and good road lay clear
before him, and he meant to break the law as to speed limit by
traveling at the fastest rate compatible with his own safety and that
of other road-users. It was no disgrace to the Mercury car, therefore,
when a dull report and a sudden effort of the steering-wheel to swerve
to the right betokened the collapse of an inner tube on the off side.
From the motorist's point of view it was difficult to understand the
cause of the mishap. The whole four tires were new so recently as the
previous Monday, and Medenham was far too deeply absorbed in his own
affairs to grasp the essential fact that Fate was still taking an
intelligent interest in him.

Of course, he did not hurry over the work as though his life depended
on it. Even when the cover was replaced and the tire pumped to the
proper degree of air-pressure he lit a cigarette and had a look at the
magneto before restarting the engine. Two small boys had appeared from
space, and he amused himself by asking them to reckon how long it
would take two men to mow a field of grass which one of the men could
mow in three days and the other in four. He promised a reward of
sixpence if the correct answer were forthcoming in a minute, and
raised it to a shilling during the next minute. This stimulated their
wits to suggest "a day and three-quarters" instead of the first
frantic effort of "three days and a half."

"No," said he. "Think it over, ponder it with ardor, and if you have
the right answer ready when I pass this way again about midday I'll
give you a shilling each."

There is no saying what sum he would have given those urchins if some
magician had spoken by their mouths and bade him hasten to Hereford
with all the zest of all the horses pent beneath the Mercury's bonnet.
But he left the boys ciphering on a gate with a bit of lead pencil
which he lent them, and pulled