ted Joan argued her
inspiration.

I have dived at random into her wallet, yet see what I have brought
forth. If memories are precious, Poitiers is uncommon rich.

As if to console us for our departure, the road to Sister Angouleme was
superb. Broad, straight, smooth as any floor, the great highway
stretched like a strip of marquetry inlaid upon the countryside. Its
invitation was irresistible....

We reached the windy town in time for a late tea.

As soon as this was over, Berry and I escaped and carried Pong off to a
garage, there to be oiled and greased against the morrow's race.
Somewhat to our amusement, before we had been there ten minutes, our
cousin arrived with Ping and the same object. Had the incident
occurred at Poitiers, I should have been encouraged as well. It was
another sign that Jonah did not despise his opponents, and his opinion
was worth having. As it was, the compliment left me unmoved....

The truth was, Berry had that afternoon contracted two habits. Again
and again on the way from Poitiers he had shown a marked tendency to
choke his engine, and five times he had failed to mesh the gears when
changing speed. Twice we had had to stop altogether and start again.
He had, of course, reproached himself violently, and I had made light
of the matter. But, for all the comfort I offered him, I was seriously
alarmed. In a word, his sudden lapse suggested that my brother-in-law
was entering that most unpleasant stage which must be traversed by all
who will become chauffeurs and are taught, so to speak, to run before
they can walk.

It was after we had dined, and when my wife and I were seated--myself,
by virtue of my injury, upon a couch, and she upon a cushion beside
me--before the comfort of a glowing log-fire, that Adele laid down the
Guide and leaned her head against my knee.

"I'm glad I married you," she said.

I looked at Nobby.

"So are we both," said I.

"I wonder," said Adele, "whether you are really, or whether you're just
being nice."

"Personally, I'm just being nice. Nobby is really. Of course, he may
be making the best of a bad job. As a worldly good of mine, I just
endowed you with him, and that was that."

"You were both very happy before--before I came."

"We thought we were."

"O-o-oh," said Adele, twisting her head around, to see my face. "You
were. You know you were."

The gleeful accusation of the soft brown eyes was irresistible. To
gain time, I swa