The flight north was consistently uneventful. With a south wind following to help him on, he sighted the three red lights which marked his fuelling station at about half-past two, and landed by the three flares that were kindled for him when he blinked his navigating lights. The two men procured from somewhere by Mr. Naccaro replenished his tank while he smoked a cigarette and stretched his legs, and in twenty minutes he was off again. He passed over Folkestone in the early daylight, and hedge-hopped for some miles before he reached his destination so that no inquisitive yokel should see exactly where he landed.
"You have him?" asked Mr. Naccaro, dancing about deliriously as Simon climbed stiffly down.
"I have," said the Saint. "You'd better get him inside quickly — I'm afraid your pals didn't dope him up as well as they thought they had, and from the way he was behaving just now I shouldn't be surprised if he was going to have-a da baby, too."
He stripped off his helmet and goggles, and watched the unloading of his cargo with interest. Signor Giuseppe Rolfieri had recovered considerably from the effects of the drug under whose influence he had been embarked; but the hangover, combined with some bumpy weather on the last part of the journey, restrained him hardly less effectively from much resistance. Simon had never known before that the human skin could really turn green; but the epidermis of Signor Rolfieri had literally achieved that remarkable tint.
The Saint stayed behind to help the other half of the reception committee — introduced as Mr. Naccaro's brother — wheel the faithful Avro into the shelter of a barn; and then he strolled back to the farmhouse. As he reached it the door opened, and Naccaro appeared.
"Ha!" he cried, clasping the Saint's shoulders. "Meester Templar — you have already been-a so kind — I cannot ask it — but you have-a da car — will you go out again?"
Simon raised his eyebrows.
"Can't I watch the wedding?" he protested. "I might be able to help."
"Afterwards, yes," said Naccaro. "But we are not-a ready. Ecco, we are so hurry, so excited, when we come here we forget-a da mos' important tings. We forget-a da soap!"
Simon blinked.