Cynthia's Chauffeur Part 18

"If he likes to come with us, he can leave his car here all night, and return for it to-morrow."

"Perhaps----"

"Please do not trouble yourself in the least on my account," broke in the Count gayly. "As for abandoning my car, such a stupid notion would never enter my mind. No, no! I wait for Smith, but you may rely on my appearance in Bristol before you have finished dinner."

Though it was no simple matter to back and turn the Mercury in that rough and narrow road, Medenham accomplished the maneuver with a skill that the Frenchman appreciated to the full. For the first time he noted the number when the tail-lamp revealed it.

"X L 4000," he commented to himself. "I must inquire who the owner is.

Devar or Smith will know where to apply for the information. And I must also ascertain that fellow's history. Confound him, and my luck, too! If the Devar woman has any sense she will keep Cynthia well out of his way until the other chauffeur arrives."

As it happened, the "Devar woman" was thinking the same thing at the same moment, but, being nervous, dared not attempt to utter her thoughts while the car was creeping cautiously over the ruts and stones. At last, when the highroad was reached, the pace quickened, and she regained the faculty of speech.

"We have had a quite eventful day," she said with an air of motherly solicitude, turning to the distrait girl by her side. "I am sure you are tired. What between an extra amount of sightseeing and poor Count Edouard's unfortunate mistake, we have been in the car nearly twelve hours."

"How did Fitzroy discover that we had taken the wrong road?" asked Cynthia, rousing herself from a perplexed reverie.

"Well, he drove very fast from Cheddar, much too fast, to my thinking, though the risk has been more than justified by circ.u.mstances. Of course, it is always easy to be wise after the event. At any rate, there being no sign of your car when we reached the top of a long hill, we--er--we discussed matters, and decided to explore the byroad."

"Did you remain long in Cheddar? If Fitzroy hit up the pace, why were you so far behind?"

"I waited a few minutes to address some postcards. And that reminds me--Fitzroy sent a most impertinent message by one of the servants----"

"Impertinent!"

"My dear, there is no other word for it--something about going off without me if I did not start instantly. Really, I shall be glad when Simmonds takes his place. But there! We must not renew our Bournemouth argument."

"And he caused a servant in the hotel to speak to you in that manner?"

"Yes--the very girl who waited on us at tea--a pert creature, who seemed to find the task congenial."

Mrs. Devar was building better than she knew. Cynthia laughed, though not with the whole-souled merriment that was music in Medenham's ears.

"She has been properly punished; I forgot to tip her," she explained.

"Count Edouard would see to that----"

"He didn't. I noticed what he paid--out of sheer curiosity. Perhaps I ought to send her something."

"My dear Cynthia!"

But dear Cynthia was making believe to be quite amused by a notion that had just suggested itself. She leaned forward in the darkness and touched Medenham's shoulder.

"Do you happen to know the name of the waitress who brought you some tea at Cheddar?" she asked. "None of us gave her anything, and I hate to omit these small items. If I had her name I could forward a postal order from Bristol."

"There is no need, Miss Vanrenen," said Medenham. "I handed her--well, sufficient to clear all claims."

"_You_ did? But why?"

The temptation to explain that he had never seen the girl before that day was strong, but he waived it, and contented himself with saying:

"I--er--can't exactly say--force of habit, I imagine."

"Is she a friend of yours?"

"No."

Cynthia subsided into the tonneau.

"Of all the odd things!" she murmured, little dreaming that her chance question had sent a thrill of sheer delight through Medenham's every vein.

"What is it now?" inquired Mrs. Devar vindictively, for she detested these half confidences.

"Oh, nothing of any importance. Fitzroy footed the bill, it seems."

"Very probably. He must have bribed the girl to be impudent."

Cynthia left it at that. She wished these people would stop their quarreling, which threatened to spoil an otherwise perfect day.

The Mercury ran smoothly into ancient Bristol, crossed the Avon by the pontoon bridge, and whirled up the hill to the College Green Hotel.

There, on the steps, stood Captain James Devar. Obviously, he did not recognize them, and Medenham guessed the reason--he expected to meet his mother only, and bestowed no second glance on a car containing two ladies. Indeed, his first words betrayed sheer amazement. Mrs. Devar cried, "Ah, there you are, James!" and James's eyegla.s.s fell from its well-worn crease.

"h.e.l.lo, mater!" he exclaimed. "But what's up? Why are you--where is Marigny?"

"Miles away--the silly man ran short of petrol. Fortunately our car came to the rescue, or it would have been most awkward, since Miss Vanrenen was with the Count at the time. Cynthia, you have not met my son. James, this is Miss Vanrenen."

The little man danced forward. Like all short and stout mortals, he was nimble on his feet, and his mother's voluble outburst warned him of an unforeseen hitch in the arrangements.

"Delighted, I'm shaw," said he. "But, by gad, fancy losing poo-aw Eddie! What have you done with him? Dwiven a stake through him and buwied him at a cwoss woad?"

Medenham dreaded that the too-faithful Simmonds, car and all, would be found awaiting their arrival, and it was a decided relief when the only automobile in sight proved to be the state equipage of some local magnate dining at the hotel. Cynthia, apparently, had shared his thoughts so far as they concerned Simmonds.

"I suppose your friend Simmonds will reveal his whereabouts during the evening," she said, while disenc.u.mbering herself of her wraps. Mrs.

Devar had already alighted, but the girl was standing in the car and spoke over Medenham's shoulder.

"Of course, he may not be here," was the answer, not given too loudly, since Mrs. Devar had hastened to give details to the perplexed James, and there was no need to let either of them overhear his words.

"Oh my! What will happen, then?"

"In that event, I should feel compelled to take his place again."

"But the compulsion, as you put it, tends rather to take you to London."

"I have changed my mind, Miss Vanrenen," he said simply.

She t.i.ttered. There was just a spice of coquetry in her manner as she stooped nearer.

"You believe that Simmonds would not have found me in that wretched lane to-night," she whispered.

"I am quite sure of it."