response to a nod
from my mistress, proceeded to turn round. I accomplished the
manoeuvre as in a dream, and ended by stopping the engine. This
brought me to my senses. As we started off again, I became cooler.
After all, very likely we should not meet them. The chances were
against it. And if we did, I could accelerate and push by them before
they knew where they were. Again--

Here we swung round a corner, and there, fifty paces away, by the side
of the road in the hot afternoon sun, stood our car, my car, Berry and
Co.'s car. The bonnet was open, and Jonah's head and hands were inside
it. Daphne sat still on the back seat, while Jill was sitting on the
bank, a posy of wild flowers in her hand. Berry leaned easily against
the side of the car, his hat over his eyes, watching Jonah at work.
From his attitude he appeared to be offering idiotic advice. So I saw
them for less than a second, for the instant they heard us coming, all
four started and looked up. I was wondering whether I dared accelerate
and dash by like a madman. I dare say the girl was thinking the same.
But her uncle settled it.

"Hullo," he said. "Fellow-motorists in trouble? English, apparently,
too. Wonder if we--" And the worthy aunt put the lid on.

"Why," she said, "if it isn't those nice children we met at the Europe
at Salzburg, Dick."

There was nothing to be done now. I just slowed down. Very slowly we
drew abreast, and all the time, till we stopped, I leaned forward and
gazed at the four in turn--open-mouthed they were--bending my brows
into the fiercest frown and laying my fingers on my lips. Then:

"How d'ye do?" said Lord Brethe.

Berry swallowed, said "Er--oh, how d'ye do?" and took off his hat.

The next moment he had himself in hand. Daphne got out of the car, and
Jonah and Jill came up. Greetings were exchanged between them and the
Brethes, and my mistress was introduced. I sat as one in a trance.
Then I heard the girl saying nervously: "I don't know whether my
chauffeur can be of any assistance." I pulled myself together and got
out of the car.

There never was such a situation. The Brethes knew nothing and thought
nothing. The girl, unaware that these were my own people, saw me being
used and treated as a chauffeur by four strangers, while she looked on
and got the thanks; and the thought made her writhe. Berry and the
others found me about to call them "Sir" and "Madam" and to serve them
by mending my