“My orders sir?”
“I want you to take me to Castle Douglas to-night—now—as soon as you can get ready. I wish to get there as soon as I can. You will want to have everything right, for we must have no break-down if we can help it. And you must have good lamps.”
“’Twill be all right, sir. We shan’t, I expect, break down. But if we do—the motor is a new one and I did not make it—I shall put it right. I am a first-rate mechanicien and an accomplished driver. …”
“All right; but don’t talk. Get the car ready, and we shall start at once.”
“We can start at once, so far as the car and I are concerned. But we lack something as yet. We must have a pilot.”
“A pilot! I thought you knew the way.”
“On paper, yes; and I doubt not I could get there all right—in time. But you want to go quick; and we would lose time finding out the way. Remember we are going in the dark.” Then turning to the proprietor he said:
“Perhaps you can help us here, sir. Have you any one who can pilot?”
“Not a chauffeur; but I have a coachman who knows all round here for a couple of days’ journey. I have no doubt that he knows that road amongst the others. He could sit beside you and direct you how to go!”
“Right! Can you get him soon?”