“My health,” said Mrs. Medallion, “leaves little to be desired.” She
turned to her companion about to re-enter the car. “Miss Woolly, this is
my nephew, Captain Rage. Captain Rage—Miss Woolly.” The two bowed. “Why
are you here, Toby?”
“Well, I’m—I’m really at Biarritz,” stammered Rage. “You know,
taking—taking a sort of holiday there.”
“Well, I’m really at Pau,” said his aunt, staring. “Taking a sort of
rest. I don’t know what from, but the doctors advised the change. What’s
your trouble? Nerves?”
“Good Heavens, no, Aunt Ira.” He laughed uneasily. “I’m perfectly well.
But I was so—so dumbfounded. You know. Er, er, astonished.”
“‘Dumbfounded’ will do,” said his aunt. “I’m quite familiar with the
word.”
“Of course,” said Toby. “What I mean is I never dreamed——”
“Why should you?” said his aunt. “Neither did I. But I don’t stammer
about it. Tell me about Biarritz.”
“Oh, it’s not much of a place,” said Toby cautiously. “And it’s awfully
full. I spend most of my time getting away from it. I like the peace
of——”
“Are there public dances there?”
Captain Rage appeared to consider.
“I believe they do dance at the Casino,” he said. “Yes, I’m almost sure
they do.”
“Are you, indeed?” said his aunt. “It’s wonderful how these things get
about, isn’t it?” Toby blenched. “Where is the English Church?”
Painfully conscious that his reply would almost certainly be compared
with that of Baedeker, Captain Rage swallowed.
“Well,” he said, “when you get out of the hotel, instead of going down
to the sea——”
“_Toby darling._”
The clear voice floated musically over the miniature wall.
The worst had happened.
Cicely had awaked.
After one frightful moment, Captain Rage plunged on desperately.
“In—instead of going down to the sea, you—you turn——”
“Somebody,” said Mrs. Medallion in a freezing tone, “_somebody_ appears
to desire your attention. Didn’t you hear them call?”
Her nephew put his head on one side and appeared to listen.
“Did they?” he said.
Grimly his aunt surveyed him.
“You must be deaf,” she said. “Never mind. If you don’t answer, I dare
say they’ll call again.”
She was perfectly right.