" He stooped to caress his _protege_. "Ah, but you are
cold, my beauty. Unleash him, _Monsieur_, I pray you, that he may warm
himself. I shall not notice him." As I did his bidding, and Nobby
capered away, "_Bon,_" he said pleasedly. "_Bon. Au revoir, mon
beau._" He straightened his bowed shoulders and touched his hat. "_A
votre service, Monsieur._"

I returned thoughtfully to where Adele and Berry were sitting, watching
us closely and pretending that we did not belong to them. So far as
personal magnetism was concerned, between Nobby and the Duke of Padua
there seemed to be little to choose. To judge by results, the two were
equally irresistible. In the race for the Popularity Stakes the rest
of the males of our party were simply nowhere.

With a sigh, a blue coupe slid past me and then slowed down. The grey
two-seater behind it did the same. When I say that Daphne, who loathes
mechanics, was seated in the latter conveyance, submitting zealously to
an oral examination by Piers regarding the particular functions of the
various controls, it will be seen that my recent conclusions were well
founded.

"Letters," said Jill, getting out of the coupe. "One for Berry and two
for Adele." She distributed them accordingly. "Fitch brought them up
on his bicycle. And Piers' aunt is coming--the one whose villa he's
at. I forgot her name, but he says she's awfully nice."

"Splendid," said I. "And now congratulate me. Having tramped the town
all the morning, I've got to walk home."

"Why?"

I pointed to Nobby.

"That he may warm himself," I said.

My cousin gave a horrified cry.

"Oh, Boy! And we only washed him last night."

"I'll take him," cried Piers. "I'd like to. And you can drive Daphne
back."

I shook my head, laughing.

"It's his master's privilege," I said. "Besides, he's had his
scolding, and if I deserted him he'd be hurt. And he's really a good
little chap."

"But----"

"My dear Piers," said Daphne, laying a hand on his arm, "rather than
risk hurting that white scrap's feelings, my brother would walk to
Lyons."

"You will all," said Berry, "be diverted to learn that I am faced with
the positively filthy prospect of repairing to London forthwith. After
spending a quarter of an hour in an overheated office in New Square,
Lincoln's Inn, in the course of which I shall make two affidavits which
nobody will ever read, I shall be at liberty to return. Give me the
Laws of England.