The boulevard was empty. We just swept up it like a black squall.

Left and right, then, and we entered the straight—with thirty seconds to go.

"Some way up," breathed Piers.

I set my teeth hard and let my lady out….

By the time I had sighted the station, the speedometer's needle had swung to seventy-three….

I ran alongside the pavement, clapped on the brakes, threw out the clutch.

Piers switched off, and we flung ourselves out of the car.

Stiff as a sleepy hare, I stumbled into the hall.

"Le train pour Paris!" I shouted. "Ou est le train pour Paris?"

"This way!" cried Piers, passing me like a stag.