Arthur Jukes sprang towards him.
'I'll give you five pounds to drive me to Royal Square,' he said.
I do not know what the sweater-clad young man's engagements for the
morning had been originally, but nothing could have been more obliging
than the ready way in which he consented to revise them at a moment's
notice. I dare say you have noticed that the sturdy peasantry of our
beloved land respond to an offer of five pounds as to a bugle-call.
'You're on,' said the youth.
'Good!' said Arthur Jukes.
'You think you're darned clever,' said Ralph Bingham.
'I know it,' said Arthur.
'Well, then,' said Ralph, 'perhaps you will tell us how you propose to
get the ball out of the car when you reach Royal Square?'
'Certainly,' replied Arthur. 'You will observe on the side of the
vehicle a convenient handle which, when turned, opens the door. The
door thus opened, I shall chip my ball out!'
'I see,' said Ralph. 'Yes, I never thought of that.'
There was something in the way the man spoke that I did not like. His
mildness seemed to me suspicious. He had the air of a man who has
something up his sleeve. I was still musing on this when Arthur called
to me impatiently to get in. I did so, and we drove off. Arthur was in
great spirits. He had ascertained from the young man at the wheel that
there was no chance of the opposition being able to hire another car at
the garage. This machine was his own property, and the only other one
at present in the shop was suffering from complicated trouble of the
oiling-system and would not be able to be moved for at least another
day.
I, however, shook my head when he pointed out the advantages of his
position. I was still wondering about Ralph.
'I don't like it,' I said.
'Don't like what?'
'Ralph Bingham's manner.'
'Of course not,' said Arthur. 'Nobody does. There have been complaints
on all sides.'
'I mean, when you told him how you intended to get the ball out of the
car.'
'What was the matter with him?'
'He was too--ha!'
'How do you mean he was too--ha?'
'I have it!'
'What?'
'I see the trap he was laying for you. It has just dawned on me. No
wonder he didn't object to your opening the door and chipping the ball
out. By doing so you would forfeit the match.'
'Nonsense! Why?'
'Because,' I said, 'it is against the rules to tamper with a hazard. If
you had got into a sand-bunker, would you smooth away the sand? If you
had put your shot under a tree, could your caddie hold up the branches
to give you a clear shot? Obviously you would disqualify yourself if
