Berry And Co. | Page 5

were as light as a rose-leaf."
"Seven stone three in the bathroom," said Agatha. "Without stockings.
Some rose-leaf."
We were going uphill. The meadow through which we were passing
sloped to an oaken fence, stoutly constructed to save the cattle from a
perilous fall. For on its farther side the ground fell away sheer, so that
at this point a bluff formed one high wall of the sunken road for which
we were making. The Thatcher, I remembered, stood immediately
opposite to the rough grass-grown steps, hewn years ago for the
convenience of such passengers as we. There was a stile set in the fence,
and as I swung myself over I glanced down past the edge of the bluff
and into the road below.
In the little curved space that fronted the inn the Rolls was standing
silent and unoccupied.

I must have exclaimed, for Agatha was over the stile In an instant, and
asking me what was the matter. Then she saw, and the words died on
her lips. Together we stood spell-bound.
The door of the inn was shut, and there was no one in sight.
My first impulse was to dart down the steps, beat upon the door of the
tavern, and confront the thief. But valour yielded to discretion. The
great thing was to recover the car. I had but a slip of a girl with me, the
spot was a lonely one, and it was more than likely that the highwayman
was not working alone. Besides, Agatha must not be involved in any
violence.
I turned to my lady.
"You stay here. I'm going to take her and drive straight to the
police-station. I'll pick up some police and come back just as quickly as
ever I can."
Miss Deriot shook her pretty head.
"I'm coming with you," she said. "Carry on."
"But, my dear----"
"I often wish I wasn't so obstinate." She spoke meditatively. "But we're
all like that. Mules aren't in it with the Deriots," she added, with a
dazzling smile.
"Neither, apparently, are cucumbers," said I, and with that I began to
descend the rough stairs, stepping as delicately as I could.
Half-way down I turned to look at my companion, and at that moment
the step upon which I was standing gave way. The scrambling sounds
which proclaimed my fall were followed by the rasping protest of
yielding cloth, and I came to rest six feet from the road at the expense
of a pre-War coat, which had caught the corner of one of the unplaned
risers. All had been so still, that in that hollow place the noise could not

have failed to attract the attention of any one who was within earshot,
and I lay for a moment where I had fallen, straining my ears for the
sound of footsteps or voices.
"Are you all right?" whispered a soft voice above me.
I turned my head and nodded. Miss Deriot, standing with clasped hands,
heaved a sigh of relief and prepared to continue her descent.
Gingerly I stepped down into the sandy road and started to cross it
a-tiptoe.
Facing towards Bloodstock, the car presented her off side to us.
With the utmost caution I proceeded to induct myself into the driver's
seat. As I sat down, Miss Deriot slipped in front of the bonnet and
round to the near side. She was opening the high side-door and my foot
was on the self-starter, when I heard the murmur of voices.
We were not a second too soon.
The moment I had started the engine there was a cry followed by the
clattering of heavy shoes upon cobbles, and as the car slid into the road
a man in a grey hat came tearing out of the inn's courtyard, waving his
arms and yelling like one possessed. Hard on his heels came pounding
his supporters, three of them, all bellowing like bulls.
So much I saw for myself. Agatha, kneeling on the seat by my side,
kept me informed of their movements till we swept out of sight.
"He's simply dancing. The one in the grey hat, I mean. Now he's
shaking his fist at us. Oh, he's mad. He's thrown his hat on the ground.
O-o-o, Boy, he's trying to kick one of the others. Oh, I wish you could
see...." The merry voice dissolved into peals of laughter.
Then the road curled, and Agatha turned left about and settled herself
by my side.
"How did you know my Christian name?" I demanded.

"Your sister used it this morning. You see, I've forgotten your other,
and I can't keep on saying 'you.' But I won't do it again."
"Please, Agatha."
"Deriot. One 'r.' I say, you've torn your coat properly."
"It feels as if it was in two pieces," said