The edifice appeared to be deserted, but after a moment or two an individual came shuffling out of the shadows. My inability to speak a word of Spanish and his inability to speak a word of anything else disfavoured an intelligent conversation, but at last I elicited first that the Grand Hotel was next door, and secondly that it would not be open until July. I imparted this pleasing information to the others. "Closed?" said Berry. "Well, that is nice. Yes. He's quite right. Here it is in the Guide. 'Open from July to October.' I suppose a superman might have put it more plainly, but it's a pretty broad hint. And now what shall we do? Three months is rather long to wait, especially as we haven't had any tea. Shall we force an entry? Or go on to Madrid?" "Fool," said Daphne. "Get in, Boy. I'm getting hungry." I got in and started the engine. Then I got out again with a stick. This the seven boys, who had remounted, were not expecting. I got in again, feeling better.... The second hotel we visited was admirably concealed. As we were passing it for the second time, Jonah came stepping across the pavement. "Lucky for you we got in early," he said. "We've got the last two rooms. They're on the fourth floor, they're miles apart, they're each about the size of a minute, and I don't think the beds are aired. The lift's out of order, there's no steam heat, and there are no fire-places. Both the bath-rooms have been let as bedrooms, and the garage is conveniently situated about a mile and a half away. The porter's cut his hand, so you'll have to carry up your luggage and help me with ours. Nobody speaks anything but Spanish, but that doesn't matter as much as it might, because the waiters have struck. And now look sharp, or we shan't get any dinner." * * * * * _Bearer will bring you to where we are. Don't talk. Don't do anything. Just get into the car._ _JONAH._ I stared at the words stupidly. Then I looked at the chauffeur standing, hat in hand, and stepped into the depths of a luxurious limousine. A moment later we were whipping over the cobbles. It was nearly half-past seven, and I had just walked back from the garage where I had deposited Pong. Whether my instructions that the radiator was to be mended and the car to be washed had been understood and would be executed, I was almost too tired to care. I was also abominably cold. The prospect of an evening and night attended with every circumstance of discomfort was most depressing. For the fiftieth time I was wishing that we had never come. And then at the door of the hotel I had been handed the message.... There was a foot-warmer in the limousine and a voluminous fur-rug. I settled myself contentedly. What it all meant, I had not the faintest idea. Enough that I was comfortable and was beginning to grow warm. My faith, moreover, in Jonah was profound. The car drew up with a rush before a mansion.