Suddenly the topmost turret of the frozen battlements burst into rosy flame….
One by tremendous one we saw the high places of the world suffer their King's salute. Little wonder that, witnessing so sublime a ceremony, we forgot all Time….
The sudden clack of shutters flung back against a wall brought us to earth with a jar.
We turned in the direction of the noise.
From the window of a cottage some seventy paces away a woman was regarding us steadily….
We re-entered the cars with more precipitation than dignity.
A glance at the clock in the dashboard made my heart sink.
A quarter past six—summer time.
It was clear that Gavarnie was lazy. Argelès, Lourdes, and the rest must be already bustling. Long ere we could reach Pau, the business of town and country would be in full swing….
The same reflection, I imagine, had bitten Jonah, for, as I let in the clutch, Ping swept past us and whipped into the village with a low snarl.