e traffic
superintendent himself. They said he was away on his holiday."

"They can't have understood what you said."

"I admit my articulation is defective--has been ever since a fellow
backed into my car at Brooklands, did it twenty pounds' worth of
damage, and then sent in a bill for a new tail-lamp. At the same
time--"

Here another station roared by. I was too late to see the name. "I
shall swear in a minute," said I. "I can feel it coming. I suppose we
do stop somewhere, if only to coal, don't we?"

"Well, we may stop before, but I know we stop at Friars Rory, because
that's where I get out."

I turned to her open-mouthed. She was consulting a wrist-watch and did
not see the look on my face. Friars Rory was where I was bound for.
We had run through the station ten minutes ago. I knew the place well.
I had just time to recover, when she looked up.

"We're late now," she said. "I expect that's why we're going so fast."

"You know," I said, "I don't believe you asked either."

"If this was the right train? Well, I've used it, going down to hunt,
for two seasons. Besides, I told a porter--"

"Can't have understood what you said," said I, producing my
cigarette-case. "Will you smoke? There's plenty of time."

"What d'you mean?"

"I was going to Rory, too. My dear, if this train really stops there,
there must be the very deuce of a hairpin corner coming, or else we're
on the Inner Circle. We've passed it once, you know, about nine miles
back, I should think. No, twelve. This is Shy Junction." We roared
between the platforms. "Wonderful how they put these engines along,
isn't it?"

But my companion was staring out of the window. The next moment she
swung round and looked at me wildly. Gravely I offered her a
cigarette. She waved me away impatiently.

"Have we really passed Rory?" she said.

"Ages ago," said I. "Your porter can't possibly have under--"

She stamped a small foot, bright in its patent-leather shoe.

"Aren't you going to do anything?" she demanded.

"I am already composing a letter to the absent traffic superintendent
which will spoil his holiday. I shall say that, in spite of the fact
that the dark lady with the eyes and the seal-skin coat asked the
porter with the nose--"

"Idiot. Can't you do anything now?"

"I can wave to the engine-driver as we go round a bend if you think
it's any good, or, of course, there's always the communication cord,
only--"