"May I teach you to drive, lady?"
A far-away look came into the soft brown eyes.
"If you don't," said Adèle, "nobody shall."
* * * * *
The day of the race dawned, clear and jubilant. By eight o'clock the sun was high in a blue heaven, new-swept by a steady breeze. Limping into the courtyard before breakfast, I rejoiced to notice that the air was appreciably warmer than any I had breathed for a month.
We had hoped to leave Angoulême at nine o'clock. Actually it was a quarter to ten before the luggage was finally strapped into place and my brother-in-law climbed into the car. With a sigh for a bad beginning, I reflected that if we could not cover the two-hundred and twenty odd miles in twelve and a quarter hours, we ought to be shot.
Jonah stood by, watch in hand.
"Are you ready?" he said.
I nodded.
"Right," said my cousin. "I'm not sure we've picked the best route, but it's too late now. No divergence allowed."