Both men were considerably reassured when at last they set eyes on each other again.  Indeed each was surprised to find something almost agreeable in the appearance of the other.  Dr. Martineau at once perceived that the fierceness of Sir Richmond was nothing more than the fierceness of an overwrought man, and Sir Richmond realized at a glance that the curiosity of Dr. Martineau’s bearing had in it nothing personal or base; it was just the fine alertness of the scientific mind.

Sir Richmond had arrived nearly forty minutes late, and it would have been evident to a much less highly trained observer than Dr. Martineau that some dissension had arisen between the little, ladylike, cream and black Charmeuse car and its owner.  There was a faint air of resentment and protest between them.  As if Sir Richmond had been in some way rude to it.

The cap of the radiator was adorned with a little brass figure of a flying Mercury.  Frozen in a sprightly attitude, its stiff bound and its fixed heavenward stare was highly suggestive of a forced and tactful disregard of current unpleasantness.

Nothing was said, however, to confirm or dispel this suspicion of a disagreement between the man and the car.  Sir Richmond directed and assisted Dr. Martineau’s man to adjust the luggage at the back, and Dr. Martineau watched the proceedings from his dignified front door.  He was wearing a suit of fawn tweeds, a fawn Homburg hat and a light Burberry, with just that effect of special preparation for a holiday which betrays the habitually busy man.  Sir Richmond’s brown gauntness was, he noted, greatly set off by his suit of grey.  There had certainly been some sort of quarrel.  Sir Richmond was explaining the straps to Dr. Martineau’s butler with the coldness a man betrays when he explains the uncongenial habits of some unloved intimate.  And when the moment came to start and the little engine did not immediately respond to the electric starter, he said:  “Oh!  Come up, you—!”

His voice sank at the last word as though it was an entirely confidential communication to the little car.  And it was an extremely low and disagreeable word.  So Dr. Martineau decided that it was not his business to hear it....

It was speedily apparent that Sir Richmond was an experienced and excellent driver.  He took the Charmeuse out into the traffic of Baker Street and westward through brisk and busy streets and roads to Brentford and Hounslow smoothly and swiftly, making a score of unhesitating and accurate decisions without apparent thought.  There was very little conversation until they were through Brentford.  Near Shepherd’s Bush, Sir Richmond had explained, “This is not my own particular car.  That was butted into at the garage this morning and its radiator cracked.  So I had to fall back on this.  It’s quite a good little car.  In its way.  My wife drives it at times.  It has one or two constitutional weaknesses—­incidental to the make—­gear-box over the back axle for example—­gets all the vibration.  Whole machine rather on the flimsy side.  Still—­”