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 that stink-pot of yours. You come round the bend like a flash of lightning. I couldn’t escape ’ee nohow. An’ maybe as that ’oss of mine won’t be fit for work no more.”

Brenton waved an impatient hand.

“Take the fellow away, Smithers, and hear what he has to say. Curse him for a blundering dolt. He tires me with his vacant stare.”

He lay back and closed his eyes. Smithers, who seemed thoroughly to understand his master, flung a conciliatory look towards the yokel, touched him lightly on the arm, and together they quitted the room.

“Sorry to hear of the spill,” said Vermont perfunctorily. “Hope the car is not much damaged?”

“My dear fellow,” replied the other, “for weeks now I’ve been trying to break my neck, but the devil seems to look after his own. What has quite happened to the car I don’t know. It was like a flash. We came whizzing round the corner and struck that fool, who was in the middle of the road. I remember flying like a rocket through the air, and then I woke up here in this crib of yours. Smithers takes corners rather recklessly. Drives well, though,