24 THE TREMENDOUS EVENT
too fat for his thin and lanky body, too florid and a little commonplace, though not lacking in intel- ligence—lit up with satisfaction.
‘“Well, young man, I suppose you have come to say good-bye? You have heard that we are leav- ing?”?
‘‘T have, Lord Bakefield; and that is why I should like a few words with you.’’
‘‘Quite, quite! You have my attention.’’
He bent over the tee, building up, with his two hands, a little mound of sand on whose summit he placed his ball; then, drawing himself up, he accepted the brassy which one of his caddies held out to him and took his stand, perfectly poised, with his left foot a little advanced and his knees very slightly bent. Two or three trial swings, to assure himself of the precise direction; a second’s reflection and calculation; and suddenly the club swung upwards, descended and struck the ball.
The ball flew through the air and suddenly veered to the left; then, curving to the right after passing a clump of trees which formed an obstacle to be avoided, it fell on the putting-green at a few yards’ distance from the hole.
‘‘Well done!’’ cried Simon. ‘‘A very pretty screw !’’
