Jonah and Co Part 8

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

I looked at n.o.bby.

"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. n.o.bby 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 swallowed. Then--

"So were you," I said desperately.

"I know I was," was the disconcerting reply.

"Well, then, why shouldn't we----"

"But you said you weren't."

I called the Sealyham.

"n.o.bby," said I, "I'm being bullied. The woman we love is turning my words against me."

For a moment the dog looked at us. Then he sat up and begged.

"And what," said Adele, caressing him, "does that mean?"

"He's pleading my cause--obviously."

"I'm not so sure," said Adele. "I wish he could talk."

"You're a wicked, suspicious girl. Here are two miserable males, all pale and trembling for love of you--you've only got to smile to make them rich--and you set your small pink heel upon their devotion. I admit it's a soft heel--one of the very softest----"

"----I ever remember," flashed Adele. "How very interesting! 'Heels I have Held,' by Wild Oats. Were the others pink, too?"

Solemnly I regarded her.

"A little more," said I, "and I shan't teach her to drive."

Adele tossed her head.

"Berry's going to do that," she said. "Directly we get to Pau."

I laughed savagely.

"I'm talking of automobiles," I said, "not golf b.a.l.l.s."

"I know," said my wife. "And Berry's going to----"

"Well, he's not!" I shouted. "For one thing, he can't, and, for another, it's my right, and I won't give it up. I've been looking forward to it ever since I knew you. I've dreamed about it. You're miles cleverer than I am, you're wise, you're quick-witted, you can play, you can sing like a nightingale, you can take me on at tennis, you can ride--driving a car's about the only thing I can teach you, and----"

Adele laid a smooth hand upon my mouth.

"n.o.bby and I," she said, "are very proud of you. They're not in the same street with their master, they know, but they're awfully proud to be his wife and dog."

To such preposterous generosity there was but one answer.

As I made it--

"May I teach you to drive, lady?"

A far-away look came into the soft brown eyes.

"If you don't," said Adele, "n.o.body shall."

The day of the race dawned, clear and jubilant. By eight o'clock the sun was high in a blue heaven, new-swept by a steady breeze. Limping into the courtyard before breakfast, I rejoiced to notice that the air was appreciably warmer than any I had breathed for a month.

We had hoped to leave Angouleme at nine o'clock. Actually it was a quarter to ten before the luggage was finally strapped into place and my brother-in-law climbed into the car. With a sigh for a bad beginning, I reflected that if we could not cover the two-hundred and twenty odd miles in twelve and a quarter hours, we ought to be shot.

Jonah stood by, watch in hand.

"Are you ready?" he said.

I nodded.

"Right," said my cousin. "I'm not sure we've picked the best route, but it's too late now. No divergence allowed."

"I agree."

"And you don't drive."

"It's out of the question."

"Right. Like to double the bets?"

"No," said Adele, "they wouldn't. I won't allow it. But I'll bet with you. I can't afford much, but I'll bet you a hundred francs we're there before you."

"I'll give you tens," said my cousin. "And I start in one hour from _Now_!"

When I say that, upon the word being given, Pong, whose manners had been hitherto above reproach, utterly refused to start or be started, it will be seen that Fate was against us....