cent. We've got
to go back."

Jonah threw out the clutch.

"We'll get that!" cried Adele. "You go on, and we'll follow."

"Right."

The next moment Ping had dropped out of sight.

It was perhaps five minutes later that, after conjuring Berry to stay
where he was and move the car for nobody, I assisted my wife on to the
pavement.

When Fuenterrabia was planned, an eleven-feet-six wheel-base was not
considered. To wheedle Pong to the mouth of the Calle del Puerto had
been a ticklish business, and I had berthed her deliberately with an
eye to our departure for the city gate, rather than to the convenience
of such other vehicles as might appear. Besides, for my brother-in-law
to have essayed manoeuvres in such surroundings would have been asking
for trouble.

As Adele and I hastened along the street--

"We must look sharp," I insisted. "She's half across the fairway. If
anybody with anything broader than a mule feels they can't wait,
there'll be murder done."

We came to the shop, panting....

The place was just as we had left it, and--there was no one there.

I looked round impatiently.

"What on earth," I began, "is the good of a----"

As I spoke, the curtain in the corner was pushed to one side, and a
French girl entered the room.

Her manner was most curious.

For a moment she hesitated, as though she would turn and fly. Then,
with her eyes upon Adele, she moved slowly forward. She seemed to be
making an effort to come and serve us. That she was most apprehensive
was perfectly plain....

Half-way between curtain and table she stopped. Then she put a hand to
her throat.

"_Madame_ desires something?"

"Some scent, please," said Adele reassuringly.

Her cheerful tone appeared to encourage the girl. And when my wife
pointed to the green phial and asked to be sprayed with its contents, I
could have sworn her attitude was that of relief.

In a flash she had produced a small square of linen. This she handed
to Adele.

"Smell, _Madame_. See, it is scentless. _Pardon_." She sprayed it
with scent. "_Voila_. That is the 'Black Lily.'"

Adele passed it to me. The scent was exquisite.

"It's delicious," said Adele.

"Yes, _Madame_, it is good. Will _Madame_ sample the others?"

"If you please."

Fresh squares of linen were produced, offered for inspection, and
sprayed....

Each perfume seemed more ravishing than its predecessor. To test the
worth of this impression, we reve