They ran down stairs and through the open door, followed by “The Automobile Girls,” who were filled with excitement. At the garage the chauffeur was busy cleaning the motor cars.
“Is Mr. Martinez’s motor cycle here, Josef?” demanded the major.
“Yes, sir,” answered the chauffeur looking up from his work, surprised at the visit of so many people at once.
“Have you see him this morning?”
“No, sir.”
“Strange,” said the major. “I can’t understand it. He must simply have slipped out of the house and gone for a long walk.”
“Uncle,” said Stephen, “suppose we wait until after lunch.”
“Wait for what, my boy?”
“Why, for José, I mean. And then, if he doesn’t turn up, we had better search for him.”
The party sat about listlessly until lunch time. It was too hot to talk and the oppressiveness of the atmosphere gave them an uneasy feeling. José had not taken even a hat, so Stephen said, and it turned out that only the day before the Spaniard had entrusted the major with a large sum of money to be locked in the family strong box until his visit was over.