he would
request me to drive; but not so. "By the way, Brown," said she, "I
forgot to ask; didn't I see you at the golf club the other day?"

From the form of the question I couldn't tell whether Payne had played
the sneak or not, nor could I guess from her face, as she had turned to
business again. As for him, he had ignored me haughtily since the start.

"_Me_, miss, at the golf club?" I promptly protested, regardless of
grammar and not sure I wasn't in for an explosion which would blow poor
Brown sky-high; "why, a _chauffeur_ wouldn't be admitted there."

"I suppose not," she answered over her shoulder. "But there was a man
very like you when my friends took me--and walking with Mr. Payne, too."

"Now for it!" thought I. But then Jimmy's first words reassured me. "Oh,
I don't know all the strangers one talks to at a club," he replied in
haste; and then, by way of changing the subject, the bounder asked Miss
Randolph if she wouldn't let him drive. "It's over a hundred miles to
Toulouse, and you'll want a firm hand, for the days are short," he had
the impudence to add.

At that I lost my head, and made a big mistake. I felt I couldn't stand
sitting still while he tried experiments with my car, and almost before
I knew what I was doing I blurted out, "Beg pardon, miss, but are you
sure this gentleman understands driving a Napier? My master expected
that _I_ was to drive his car when he let it out, and----"

Such a look of reproach as the Goddess threw me! "But _I_ understand
that, while I hire the car it is mine to do as I like with, in reason,"
she cut me short. "Mr. Payne tells me that he has often driven his
friend the Duke of Burford's Napier. And if anything happens to your
master's car while I have it, I will pay for the damage up to its full
value, so your mind may be at ease on his account."

With this well-deserved, but none the less crushing snub she brought the
car to a standstill and inadvertently stopped the motor. After virtually
agreeing the night before to let Payne drive, I ought to have kept my
mouth shut; but you will admit that the temptation was strong. I
descended, like a well-conducted _chauffeur_, to help my mistress change
places with my hated rival, and of course it was my duty to start the
motor again, which I did. Before I could get out of the way, Payne
started--on the third speed, like the duffer he is, changing so quickly
to the second that I had to race after the car and hurl myself