eight miles. It was when we had
covered exactly four of these in six minutes that the engine stuttered,
sighed, and then just fainted away.

We had run out of petrol.

This was annoying, but not a serious matter, for there was a can on the
step. The two gallons it was containing would easily bring us to Pau.

What was much more annoying and of considerable moment was that the
can, when examined, proved to be dry as a bone.

After a moment's consideration of the unsavoury prospect, so suddenly
unveiled, I straightened my back, pushed my ridiculous hat to the nape
of my neck, and took out a cigarette-case.

Adele and Berry stared.

"That's right," said the latter bitterly. "Take your blinking time.
Why don't you sit down on the bank and put your feet up?"

I felt for a match.

Finger to lip, Adele leaned forward.

"For Heaven's sake," she cried, "don't say there's none in the can!"

"My darling," said I, "you've spoken the naked truth."

There was a long silence. The gush of a neighbouring spring was
suggesting a simple peace we could not share.

Suddenly--

"Help!" shrieked the English Rose. "Help! I'm being compromised."

So soon as we could induce him to hold his tongue, a council was held.

Presently it was decided that I must return to Argeles, if possible,
procure a car, and bring some petrol back as fast as I could. Already
the day was growing extremely hot, and, unless I encountered a driver
who would give me a lift, it seemed unlikely that I should be back
within an hour and a half.

We had, of course, no hope of salvation. Help that arrived now would
be too late. Lourdes would be teeming. The trivial round of Pau would
be in full blast. The possible passage of another car would spare
us--me particularly--some ignominy, but that was all.

It was arranged that, should a car appear after I had passed out of
sight, the driver should be accosted, haply deprived of petrol, and
certainly dispatched in my pursuit.

Finally we closed Pong, and, feeling extremely self-conscious and
unpleasantly hot, I buttoned my overcoat about me and set out for
Argeles.

The memory of that walk will stay with me till I die.

If, a few hours before, I had been satisfied that 'Incroyables' seldom
sat down, I was soon in possession of most convincing evidence that,
come what might, they never did more than stroll. The pantaloons,
indeed, curtailed every pace I took. It also became painfully obvious
t