"That's it. I'm too big for my boots, or my head's too big for my hat. And the management are not sorry to save a few days' salary." "But during these few days----?" "We wait at Vichy." He spoke woodenly, his lined face set hard. "I shall miss you tremendously, my dear fellow," said I. "I shall miss your company even more," said he. "We won't, at any rate, say good-bye to-day," I ventured. "There are cars to be hired, and Vichy from the car point of view is close by." "You, my dear Hylton, I shall be delighted to see." The emphasis on the pronoun would have rendered his meaning clear to even a more obtuse man than myself. No Lady Auriols flaunting over to Vichy. "May I ask when you came to this decision?" I enquired. "Bakkus's note suggested only a postponement of our meeting." "Last night," said he. "That's one reason why I sent for Bakkus." "I see," said I. But I did not tell him what I saw. It looked as though the gallant fellow were simply running away. Soon afterwards, to my great relief, there came Lady Auriol swinging along on the other side of the pavement. The café, you must know, forms a corner. To the left, the park and the tram terminus; to the right, the street leading to the post office and then dwindling away vaguely up the hill. It was along this street that Lady Auriol came, short-skirted, flushed with exercise, rather dusty and dishevelled. I stood and waved an arresting hand. She hesitated for a second and then crossed the road and met us outside the café. I offered a seat at our table within. She declined with a gesture. We all stood for a while and then went diagonally over to the park entrance. "I've been such a walk," she declared. "Miles and miles--through beautiful country and picturesque villages. You ought to explore. It's worth it." "I know the district of old," said Lackaday. "I'm tremendously struck with the beauty of the women of Auvergne." "They're the pure type of old Gaul," said Lackaday. She put up a hand to straying hair. "I'm falling to pieces. I have but two desires in the world--a cold bath and food. Perhaps I shall see you later." He stood unflinching, like a soldier condemned for crime. I wondered at her indifference. He said: "Unfortunately I can't have that pleasure. My engagements take up the rest of the day, and tomorrow I leave Clermont-Ferrand. I shan't have another opportunity of seeing you." Their eyes met and his, calm yet full of pain, dominated. She thrust her hand through my arm. "Very well then, let us get into the shade." We entered the park, found an empty bench beneath the trees and sat down, Auriol between us. She said: "Do you mean at Royat or in the world in general?" "Perhaps the latter." She laughed queerly. "As chance has thrown us together here, it will possibly do the same somewhere else." "My sphere isn't yours," said he. "If it hadn't been for the accident of Hylton being here, we should not have met now."