ive of
a palatial hotel, and, though it was growing dusk as we had slipped
into the town, we had seen quite enough of our surroundings to
appreciate that, where Nature had succeeded so admirably, man had by no
means failed.

And now we were taking tea in my sister's bedroom and discussing what
Berry called "the order of going in."

"We'd better decide right away," said my brother-in-law, "to stay here
a week. It's perfectly obvious that two nights are going to be no
earthly."

"All you're thinking of," said Daphne, "is the Casino. I knew it would
be like this."

"All right," replied her husband; "look at the guide-book. We haven't
seen this place yet, and there are twelve excursions--all highly
recommended. We can cut out Tolosa, because I see we did that this
afternoon. That was where the child lobbed the jam-tin into the car.
I fancy I passed the cathedral when I was chasing him. Any way, I
shall say so."

"I am told," said I, "that Fuenterrabia's worth seeing."

"It's the show place about here," said Jonah. "Old as the hills.
That'll take a morning alone."

I yawned.

"There's a shop there," I said, "in the Calle del Puerto, where they
sell some wonderful scent. I believe it's all good, but their 'Red
Violets' is simply ravishing."

The girls pricked up their ears.

"Who told you all this?" said Adele.

"I can't imagine," said I truthfully. "But she had a nice voice. You
know--one of those soft mellifluous ones, suggesting that she's bored
to distraction with everything except you." I took out a cigarette and
looked about me. "Anyone got a match?" I added.

"Blow the matches," said my sister. "When did all this happen?"

"This afternoon," said I. "I'd always heard that San Sebastian----"

"Is she staying here?" said Adele.

"In the hotel? She didn't say."

"But how did you come to speak to her?" demanded my wife.

"I didn't," I said. "She spoke to me. I tell you I've always heard
that San----"

"And you communed with her?" said Berry. "With your lawful wife
working herself to death on the first floor unpacking your sponge-bag,
you exchanged secrets of the toilet with a honey-toned vamp? Oh, you
vicious libertine.... Will she be at the Casino to-night?"

"I didn't ask her."

Berry raised his eyes to heaven.

"You don't know her name; you never asked where she's staying, and
you've fixed nothing up." He sighed heavily. "Some people don't
deserve to get on."

"I hadn