Jones did refuse, firmly and decisively. Geoffrey argued with him, attempted to bribe him, finally swore at him. The girl stood by and laughed. Jones turned on her truculently.
“If young ladies,” he said, “would stay in their homes, which is the proper place for them, and not go driving about in motor cars, there’d be less trouble in the world; and decent men who work hard all day would be left to eat their dinners in peace.”
The girl was entirely unabashed.
“If decent men,” she said, “would think more about their business and less about their dinners, motors wouldn’t break down six miles from home. You were supposed to have overhauled that car last week, Jones, and you told father yourself that the engine was in first rate order.”
“No engine will go,” said Jones, “if you don’t know how to drive it.
“Look here,” said Geoffrey, “hop into my car. I’ll have you there in less than half an hour. We’ll bring a rope with us, and if you can’t make the car start at once, we’ll tow it home. It won’t be a long job. I’ll undertake to have you back here in an hour. Your dinner won’t be cold by that time.”
He took Jones by the arm and pulled him towards the door of the inn. Jones, protesting and muttering, gave way at last. He fetched his hat and coat, and took a seat in Geoffrey’s car.
Geoffrey made good his promise. Once clear of the town, with an empty road before him, he drove fast and reached the scene of the breakdown in less than twenty minutes.
Jones was evidently sulky. Without speaking a word to either Geoffrey or the girl he went straight to the car at the side of the road. He gave the starting handle a single turn. Then he stopped and went to the back of the car. He took out a tin of petrol and emptied it into the tank. Then he gave another jerk to the starting handle. The engine responded at once with a cheerful rattle. The girl, to Geoffrey’s amazement, laughed loud. He felt abashed and humiliated, very little inclined to mirth.
“I’m awfully sorry,” he babbled his apologies. “I’m really awfully sorry. It was extremely stupid of me, but I never thought——. Of course I ought to have looked at the petrol tank first thing.”