Humorous stories; Love stories; Pau (France) -- Fiction
"We go," said I, "to St. Jean-Pied-de-Port. There we get a permit to
take the cars into Spain. Then we go over the mountains by Roncevaux.
It's a wonderful drive, they say, but the very deuce of a climb.
Pampeluna's about fifty kilometres from the top of the pass. If we get
off well, we ought to be there in time for tea."
"Easily," said Jonah. "It's only a hundred and twenty miles."
I shrugged my shoulders and resumed a surreptitious search for the
chocolates.
"I expect we shall strike some snow," I said.
"Snow?" cried Jill.
"Rather," said Berry. "And avalanches. The cars will be roped
together. Then, if one falls, it'll take the other with it. Will
somebody pass me the grape-tongs? I've found a walnut."
"Why on earth," said Daphne, "don't they bring some candles? Falcon!"
"Yes, madam?"
"Try to find the door, and go and see what they're doing."
"Very good, madam."
With infinite care the butler emerged from the room. As the door
closed--
"And now," said Adèle, "I can't bear it any longer. Where _are_ the
chocolates?"
"My dear," said my sister, "I've been feeling for the wretched things
ever since the light went out. Hasn't anybody got a match?"
Nobody had a match.
At length----
"They can't have been put on the table," said Jill. "I've----"
"Here they are," said Berry.
"Where?"
"Here. Give me your pretty white hand."
"This isn't them," said Jill. "They're in---- Oh, you brute! You've
done it on purpose."
"I'm awfully sorry," said Berry. "I quite thought----"
"You liar!" said Jill heatedly. "You did it on purpose. You know you
did. Daphne, he's gone and put my hand in the ginger."
"It'll wear off, dear," said Berry. "It'll wear off. By the time
Piers is back, you'll hardly know...."
The apologetic entry of Falcon with two inches of candle upon a plate
cut short the prophecy.
As he solemnly set the brand in the centre of the table, the light
returned with a flash....
It was when the butler had placed the wine before Berry and was about
to withdraw, that Daphne asked for the chocolates.
Falcon peered at the table.
"They were there, madam," he said.
Berry looked round uneasily.
"I think, perhaps," he began stooping to feel under his chair, "I
think--I mean, fearing lest in the confusion...."
He broke off, to stare at a small silver bowl which was as bare as his
hand.
Daphne took a deep breath.
"And that was full," she said witheringly. "And you sat there and let
us feel all over the table, and pretended you were looking, and put
Jill's hand in the ginger, and all the time----"
"I never ate one," said Berry. "I never...." He stopped short and
looked round the room. "Nobby!"
The Sealyham emerged from beneath the table, wide-eyed, expectant.
Sternly my brother-in-law held out the bowl.
Never was guilt more plainly betrayed.
The pricked ears fell flat: the bright brown eyes sank to the floor:
the pert white tail was lowered incontinently. Nobby had hauled down
his flag.
"Oh, Nobby!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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