"Besides," I concluded, "a rest of a quarter of an hour will do you good."
As the words left my mouth, I noticed for the first time that my brother-in-law was tiring.
For the moment I thought I was mistaken, for upon our previous runs he had never turned a hair. Now, however, he seemed to be driving with an effort. As if to confirm my suspicions, at the very next hill he missed his change.
"I think," I said quickly, "you ought to have your lunch right away.
It's no good getting done in for want of food."
Berry shot me a pathetic glance.
"It isn't that, old chap. It's—— Hang it all, it's my shoulder!
That cursed muscular rheumatism cropped up again yesterday…."
The murder was out.
After a little he admitted that, ever since we had left Poitiers, any quick movement of his left arm had caused him intense pain.
Of course both Adèle and I besought him to stop there and then and let the race go to blazes. Of this he would not hear, declaring that, so long as Jonah was behind, victory was not out of sight, and that nothing short of paralysis would induce him to jilt the jade. After a little argument, we let him have his way …
The road continued to offer an abominable passage, and when we stopped at a garage in Bordeaux, it was five minutes to three of a beautiful afternoon.