, of course. But it won't be the same. And my memory isn't
short-lived really. I'd forgotten the Angouleme dinner, but I shan't
forget this lunch in a hundred years."

"In another minute," said Berry, "I shall imbrue this omelet with
tears. Then it'll be too salt." He seized his tumbler and raised it
above his head. "I give you Monsieur Roland. May he touch the ground
in spots this afternoon. Five times he's lent me an 'unter-'oss out of
sheer good nature; his taste in cocktails is venerable; and whenever I
see him he asks when we're going to use his car."

We drank the toast gladly.

Roland was a good sportsman, and throughout the season at Pau he had
been more than friendly. He was to ride two races at the meeting this
afternoon.

"And now," said I, "get a move on. St. Jammes is ten miles off, and
the road is vile. If we'd got Roland's flier, it 'ld be one thing, but
Ping and Pong'll take their own time."

My brother-in-law frowned.

"Business first," he said shortly. "Business first. I spoke to the
steward about the cutlets, and I won't have them rushed. And if that's
our Brie on the sideboard--well, I, too, am in a melting mood, and it's
just asking for trouble."

There was a fresh breeze quickening the air upon the uplands beyond old
Morlaas, to whip the flags into a steady flutter and now and again
flick a dark tress of hair across Adele's dear cheeks.

As we scrambled across country--

"Why, oh, why," she wailed, "did ever I let it grow? I'll have it cut
again to-morrow. I swear I will."

"And what about me?" said I. "You're a joint tenant with me. You
can't commit waste like that without my consent."

"I'm sure I can abate--is that right?--a nuisance."

"It's not a nuisance. It's a glory. When I wake up in the morning and
see it rippling all over the pillow, I plume myself upon my real and
personal interest in such a beautiful estate. Then I start working out
how many lockets it 'ld fill, and that sends me to sleep again."

"Does it really ripple?" said Adele. "Or is that a poet's licence?"

"Rather," said I. "Sometimes, if I'm half asleep, I feel quite
seasick."

Adele smiled thoughtfully.

"In that case," she announced, "I'll reconsider my decision. But I
wish to Heaven it 'ld ripple when I'm awake."

"They're off!" cried Jonah.

A sudden rush for the bank on which we were standing confirmed his
report. We had much ado to escape being thrust into the deep lane th