Jonah and Co Part 10

"Let her drive," he said huskily. "One thing's certain. She can't do any worse than I have."

"You never know," said Adele.

A minute later she was in the driver's seat, and I had folded the rug and placed it behind her back.

As Berry took his seat--

"That's right," I said. "Now let in the clutch gently.... Well done.

Change.... Good girl! Now, I shouldn't try to pa.s.s this lorry until----"

"I think you would," said Adele, changing into third, and darting in front of the monster.

"Good Heavens!" I cried. Then: "Look out for that tram, lady. You'd better..."

As the tram was left standing, I caught my brother-in-law by the arm.

"_She can drive!_" I said stupidly.

"Nonsense," said Berry, "I'm willing her."

"_You fool!_" I shouted, shaking him. "_I tell you she can drive!_"

We flashed between two waggons. "_Look at that! She's a first-cla.s.s driver, and she's going to save your stake!_"

"What's really worrying me," said Adele, "is how we're to pa.s.s Jonah without him seeing us."

There was an electric silence. Then--

"_For-rard!_" yelled Berry. "_For-r-a-r-d!_ Out of the way, fat face, or we'll take the coat off your back." A portly Frenchman leaped into safety with a scream. "That's the style. For-rard! Fill the fife, dear heart, fill the blinkin' fife; there's a cyciclist on the horizon.

For-rard!"

To sound the horn would have been a work of supererogation. Maddened by our vociferous exuberance, n.o.bby lifted up his voice and barked like a demoniac. The unG.o.dly hullaballoo with which we shook the dust of Bordeaux from off our tires will be remembered fearfully by all who witnessed our exit from that city.

When I had indulged my excitement, I left the terrier and Berry to finish the latter's lunch and turned to my wife.

Sitting there, with her little hands about the wheel, she made a bewitching picture. She had thrown her fur coat open, and the breeze from the open window was playing greedily with the embroidery about her throat. Her soft hair, too, was now at the wind's mercy, and but for a little suede hat, which would have suited Rosalind, the dark strand that lay flickering upon her cheek would have been one of many. Chin in air, eyebrows raised, lids lowered, the faintest of smiles hovering about her small red mouth, my lady leaned back with an indescribable air of easy efficiency which was most attractive. Only the parted lips at all betrayed her eagerness....

I felt very proud suddenly.

The road was vile, but Pong flew over it without a tremor. Looking upon his driver, I found it difficult to appreciate that a small silk-stockinged foot I could not see was setting and maintaining his beautiful steady pace.

As I stared at her, marvelling, the smile deepened, and a little gloved hand left the wheel and stole into mine.

I pulled the glove back and kissed the white wrist....

"And I was going to teach you," I said humbly.

"So was I," wailed Berry. "I'd arranged everything. I was going to be so patient."

"I was looking forward to it so much," I said wistfully.

"Oh, and don't you think I was?" cried Adele. "It was so dear of you, lad. I was going to pretend----"

"It was much more dearer of me," said Berry. "But then, I'm like that.

Of course," he added, "you ought to have driven from Boulogne. Don't tell me why you held your peace, because I know. And I think it was just sweet of you, darling, and, but for your husband's presence, I should kiss you by force."

The car fled on.

There was little traffic, but thrice we came upon cows and once upon a large flock of sheep. We could only pray that Jonah had endured the same trials.

As we slid through Langon, thirty miles distant from Bordeaux, I looked at my watch. Two minutes to four. Adele noticed the movement and asked the time. When I told her, she frowned.

"Not good enough," she said simply.

The light was beginning to fail now, and I asked if she would have the lamps lit.

She shook her head.

"Not yet, Boy."

At last the road was presenting a better surface. As we flashed up a long incline, a glance at the speedometer showed me that we were doing fifty. As I looked again, the needle swung slowly to fifty-five....

I began to peer into the distance for Jonah's dust.

With a low snarl we swooped into La Reole, whipped unhesitatingly to right and left, coughed at cross-streets, and then swept out of the town ere Berry had found its name in the Michelin Guide.

Again I asked my wife if she would have the headlights.

"Not yet, Boy."

"Shall I raise the wind screen?"

"Please."

Together Berry and I observed her wish, while with her own right hand she closed the window. The rush of the cool air was more than freshening, and I turned up her coat collar and fastened the heavy fur about her throat.

The car tore on.

Lights began to appear--one by one, stabbing the dusk with their beams, steady, conspicuous. One only, far in the distance, seemed ill-defined--a faint smudge against the twilight. Then it went out altogether.

"Jonah," said Adele quietly.

She was right.

Within a minute we could see the smear again--more clearly. It was Ping's tail-lamp.

I began to tremble with excitement. Beside me I could hear Berry breathing fast through his nose.

Half a dozen times we lost the light, only to pick it up again a moment later. Each time it was brighter than before. We were gaining rapidly....