"The pure in heart," said Berry, "are proof against its malignity. Don't you come too near. And look at this sere and yellow leaf. Now, that represents one franc. When I think that, upon offering that to a bar-tender, I shall not only not be assaulted, but shall actually receive a large bottle of beer and be lent a two-and-sixpenny glass from which to imbibe the same, I feel the deepest reverence for the French Government. No other authority in the world could possibly put up such a bluff and get away with it." "They are awful," said Jill, peering. "They're perfectly beastly," said Berry, "and wholly ridiculous. However, since they're also legal tender, I suppose I may as well try and sort them out. What I really need is some rubber gloves and a box-respirator. Hullo! Just catch that one, will you? He's seen that dog over there.... You know, I'm not at all sure that they get enough air in my pocket. I suppose we couldn't get a hutch for the more advanced ones. I mean, I don't want to be cruel." Again Jonah looked at his watch. "We have now," he said, "wasted fifty-six minutes in----" "Excuse me," said Berry, "but isn't this touching? Here's affectionate Albert." With the words, he laid a two-franc note tenderly upon my sleeve. "Now, I bet you don't get him off without tearing him." Disgustedly I managed to detach Albert, who instantly adhered to my fingers. There was a shriek of laughter. "Stick to him," said Berry. "I've lost the bet." The injunction was unnecessary. After Albert had clung once to Adèle's--happily, gloved--fingers and twice to each of my hands, I trod upon him. Some of Albert was still upon my boot that evening at Angoulême. "For the last time," said Jonah, "I appeal to you all to let that dog-eared mountebank rake over his muck-heap, and attend to me." My brother-in-law addressed Adèle. "It is," he said, "a discreditable but incontrovertible fact that saints have always been reviled. I suppose it's jealousy." He turned to his wife. "By the way, did you pack my _aureola_? I left it hanging on the towel-rail." "If," said Daphne, "you're referring to your body-belt, it's with your bed-socks." "And why not between your flannel vests?" said her husband. "The grey ones we found at Margate, I mean. With the imitation bone buttons. Ah, here we are. Now, if half a franc's no earthly, what'll who give me for two-thirds of fifty centimes?" Jonah sank into a chair and closed his eyes. "Look here," said I desperately. "Once for all, are we going to stay at Bordeaux, or are we going right through?" "I think we'd all rather go right through," said Jill. "I know I would," said her brother. "And if Boy's leg was all right, I shouldn't hesitate. I'll answer for Ping. But, frankly, with Berry driving, I doubt if Pong'll fetch up. I mean, two hundred and twenty-two miles takes some biting off." There was a pregnant silence. Then-- "He'll never do it," said Daphne.