I took a note from my pocket.
"He is a wicked dog," I said. "There. He pays his fine. As for me, I shall be punished enough. My home is distant, and I was to have driven. Now he is wet and must grow dry, so I must walk. I will think out his punishment as I go." And, with that, I hooked my cane to the delinquent's collar and turned away.
"Pardon, Monsieur." The old fellow came shambling after us. "Pardon, but do not punish him, I pray you." Nobby screwed round his head and looked at him. "Oh, but how handsome he is! Perhaps he did not understand. And I should be sorry to think …" Nobby started towards him and moved his tail. "See how he understands. He has the eyes of a dove." He stooped to caress his protégé. "Ah, but you are cold, my beauty. Unleash him, Monsieur, I pray you, that he may warm himself. I shall not notice him." As I did his bidding, and Nobby capered away, "Bon," he said pleasedly. "Bon. Au revoir, mon beau." He straightened his bowed shoulders and touched his hat. "A votre service, Monsieur."
I returned thoughtfully to where Adèle and Berry were sitting, watching us closely and pretending that we did not belong to them. So far as personal magnetism was concerned, between Nobby and the Duke of Padua there seemed to be little to choose. To judge by results, the two were equally irresistible. In the race for the Popularity Stakes the rest of the males of our party were simply nowhere.
With a sigh, a blue coupé slid past me and then slowed down. The grey two-seater behind it did the same. When I say that Daphne, who loathes mechanics, was seated in the latter conveyance, submitting zealously to an oral examination by Piers regarding the particular functions of the various controls, it will be seen that my recent conclusions were well founded.
"Letters," said Jill, getting out of the coupé. "One for Berry and two for Adèle." She distributed them accordingly. "Fitch brought them up on his bicycle. And Piers' aunt is coming—the one whose villa he's at. I forgot her name, but he says she's awfully nice."
"Splendid," said I. "And now congratulate me. Having tramped the town all the morning, I've got to walk home."
"Why?"
I pointed to Nobby.
"That he may warm himself," I said.