y or two, with some ladies, on
their motor-car," said he. "Very good car, I believe; one of the ladies
very handsome. She has a _chauffeur_, of course, but I shall drive and
let him do the dirty work. I fancy I shall be able to show my friend
something in the way of driving. She wants to learn, and ought to have
good instruction to begin with; one never recovers form if taught bad
ways at first."

I lay low, like Brer Rabbit, but my ears were burning. He'd named no
names, and I had no reason to fit a cap on anybody's head. There were
plenty of ladies and plenty of motor-cars in Pau, any of which might be
going to Nice. I had never seen the man before, and didn't believe Miss
Randolph knew him from Adam; still, I had a sensation of heat in my
ears, and when I'd finished the letter I had begun (it was to Burford,
by the way, but I refrained from telling him how his name had been taken
in vain, less out of good nature than because I couldn't be bothered), I
got up, went out, and asked the steward who the young man was who looked
like Sherlock Holmes.

He knew at once who I meant, grinned, and informed me that the gentleman
was a very rich American, named Payne, a great amateur automobilist, and
a keen golfer. How he had obtained all these particulars it wasn't
difficult to guess, when one reflected upon Mr. Payne's fondness for
talking of himself. By the way, have you ever met the man at all?

A few minutes after questioning the steward, I was strolling on the lawn
thinking over what I had heard, when Sherlock walked out of the club,
his obtrusive eyeglass dangling from his buttonhole.

He advanced towards me, somewhat to my surprise, and hailed me from
afar, seeing, I suppose, that I was inclined to move on. "I say, sir,"
he began, "if you want a game, will you take me on? I've a friend just
gone, and there doesn't seem to be anyone here but you and me----"

By this time he had stuck the big monocle in his eye, where it had
somewhat the effect of a biscuit. I fancied it was the addition of the
eyeglass which discomposed his expression, but almost immediately I
realised that the change was due to a cause more violent.

"B--ah Jove!" he ejaculated. And then, "'Pon my word, what damned
impertinence!" He stood glaring at me through that eyeglass with such an
"I am the Duke of Omnium, who the devil are you?" sort of expression
that I thought he must be mad, and I stared also, in amazed silence.

After looking me up and