ll in the centre of a clump of trees. He alighted.

"That motor is a good goer," said he, "but it is too dangerous a
companion--too conspicuous a mark."

As he thought of the stranded bundle of mystery at _The Flowery
Crossways_ he laughed. Then he started for the station at a steady
pace.

* * * * *

The chauffeur woke. He saw it was nine o'clock.

"Good lord!... I shall catch it hot! We were to start at eight!"

He dressed hastily; ran down to the yard; stared about him: his car
had vanished. Was he still dreaming?... He ran round to the front of
the hotel--no car! Was the car stolen?... Had they set off without
him?... The hotel-keeper was marketing in Rouen.... The stablemen
could throw no light on this mystery.

"Probably one of your masters has gone for a turn," suggested a man.

The chauffeur's anger grew.

"If they've dared to!" he shouted. "It is not their car!... I'm not in
their service!... That cure came to my garage yesterday and hired my
car for an outing.... What business has this cure or his soldier to
move my car?... I'll teach them who and what I am!"...

The farm boys, stable lads and men were shouting with laughter at the
chauffeur's fury. Said one:

"You know their room, don't you?... Why not see if they are in it?...
Make sure you have cause for all this dust up!"

The chauffeur rushed upstairs four at a time! He banged on the door of
the room taken by his temporary employer and the corporal--banged and
thumped!... No response!... He tried the door--unlocked!... He opened
it, looked in--empty!

Cursing and raging, the chauffeur clattered downstairs and collided
with the hotel-keeper.

"Where is my cure?" shouted the chauffeur.

"Your cure?" echoed the good fellow, staring.

"Yes, my cure. Or his corporal!... Where are they?... Where, I say?"

"Where are they?" gaped the hotel-keeper.

The entire hotel staff was grouped in the background, laughing.

"It's my car! I can't find it!... Do you know where it is?"

"Your car!" exclaimed the hotel-keeper. "But the corporal went off two
hours ago and more! He was going for a 'trial spin,' was what he told
me!"

"Was the cure with him?"

"No. The cure left just after him, saying he was going to send off a
telegram. Was it not true?"

The chauffeur sank on a chair.

"Here's a low-down trick!... Those dirty thieves have cut off with my
car! Let me catch them! I'll give them beans and a bit!"

The