illing the post of constable. The longer
you gazed, the stronger the paradox became. Pictures of peace and war
became inextricably confused. Men-at-arms mumbled their offices; steel
caps concealed tonsures: embrasures framed precious panes: trumpets
sounded the Angelus: mail chinked beneath vestments: sallies became
processions: sentinels cried "_Pax vobiscum_".... Plainly most
venerable, the tiny city and the tremendous church made up a living
relic, of whose possession Memory can be very proud.
Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges ranks with the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
There is nothing like it in all the world.

Presently we passed through the meadows, climbed up the tree-clad
slopes, and came to a little terrace under the city-wall. Full in the
sunlight, sheltered from the wind, the pleasaunce made an ideal
refectory. The view of the mountains, moreover, which it afforded was
superb. I stole by the city gate and berthed Pong close to the low
parapet....

Ten minutes later Ping drew up behind us.

"Isn't this just lovely?" cried Adele, applying the hand-brake.

"It's unique," said I, advancing. "How did the car go?"

"Like a train," said Jonah, helping Daphne to alight. "I may add that
I've enjoyed being driven."

"Oh, Jonah, how nice of you!" cried Adele.

It was, indeed, a compliment worth having.

"I told you so," I said unctuously.

"And now," said Berry, "if you've quite done scratching one another's
backs----"

"Vulgar brute!" said Daphne.

"I beg your pardon?"

My sister repeated the appellative.

Instantly her husband assumed an attitude of listening ecstasy.

"Hark!" he exclaimed dramatically. "I he-ear my lo-ove calling." A
rapturous smile swept into his face. "It must be clo-osing time." He
changed his tone to one of indicative solicitude. "More to the left,
sweet chuck. No. That's the water-trough. I've got the pram here."

A master of pantomime, Berry can create an atmosphere with a look and a
word. 'On the halls,' he would probably be a complete failure. On the
terrace beneath the walls of St. Bertrand he was simply side-splitting.
Daphne and Jonah included, we collapsed tearfully....

As we did so there was a roar of laughter behind us.

One and all, we turned blindly about, to see a slim figure in a grey
tweed suit dash for the gateway. As we looked, a grey hat flew off.
The next moment its owner was within the walls.

I ran to the gateway and stared up a little paved s