"Hope so. More than enough to pay for this sort of bed. Times are pretty good with us chaps now;" and I pulled out a handful of money.

His surly look cleared. "I don't want any of it. What sort of a mechanic do you call yourself?"

"Motors and aeroplanes and that sort of thing."

"The devil you are!" he exclaimed, and, after a pause: "Care to earn a mark or two?"

"Don't mind if I do? How?"

"My motor's in the lane yonder, and something's gone wrong with it. Do you think you could patch it up?"

"I'll have a look at it for you. I'd better get what tools I have with me. They're with my lad."

He opened the front door of the cottage and I ran up to fetch Nessa, fastening her hair up tightly. I told her about the farmer, and found him waiting for us at the bottom of the stairs. He squinted so curiously at Nessa that I feared he suspected her sex.

"My name's Glocken," he said as we went to the car.

I didn't respond to the evident invitation. "Farmer are you?"