them apart. Each seated three
inside--comfortably, while a respectable quantity of baggage could be
easily bestowed in each of the capacious boots.

Certainly my cousin's staff work had been superb.

In the circumstances it seemed hardly fair that upon this, the first
night of our venture, he should be faced with the labour of shepherding
both cars, single-handed, first clear of the Customs, and then, one by
one, through the cold, dark streets which led from the quay to the
garage of the hotel.

As if she had read my thought--

"Poor Jonah!" said Adele suddenly. "I wonder----"

A knock upon the door interrupted her.

This, being opened, admitted Nobby, two porters, our luggage, two
waiters, a large dish of sandwiches, some beer, coffee and its
accessories, Jonah, and finally Berry.

"You must be tired," said the latter. "Let's sit down, shall I?" He
sank into a chair. "And how's the comic _patella_? I well remember,
when I was in Plumbago, a somewhat similar accident. A large
cherry-coloured _gibus_, on its wrong side----"

"At the present moment," said I, wrestling with the Sealyham's
advances, "we're more concerned with your future than with your past.
It's the Bank of England to a ha'p'orth of figs that to-morrow morning
I shall have a stiff leg. Very good." I paused. "Those three lessons
you've had," I added carelessly, "will come in useful."

Jonah, who was filling a tumbler, started violently and spilled some
beer. Then he leaned against the wall and began to laugh helplessly.

Coldly Berry regarded him.

"I fail," he said stiffly, "to see the point of your mirth. I gather
that it is proposed to enjoy my services for the propulsion of one of
the automobiles--that, while you will be responsible for the 'shoving'
of Ping, these delicate hands will flick Pong across France. Very
good. Let the Press be informed; call forth the ballad-mongers. What
would have been a somewhat sordid drive will become a winged flight,
sublime and deathless."

"I trust so," said Jonah. "Six hundred miles with a fool at the wheel
is a tall order, but, if your companions survive the first two days,
they ought to pull through. Try not to do more than five pounds' worth
of damage to the gallon, won't you?"

"Sour grapes," said Berry. "The professional reviles the distinguished
amateur."

"Seriously," said I, "it's no laughing matter."

"I agree," said Daphne. "You'll have to just crawl along all the way.