"
The pedal was fixed again. Meldon shook it violently to make sure that
it was really firm.
"I hope," he said, "it will stick on this time. These delays are most
exasperating when one's in a hurry. We shall have to buck up now,
O'Donoghue, and ride really fast."
O'Donoghue groaned. He had been riding at the top of his speed since
he left Donard, and there were still six miles between him and
Ballymoy. Meldon led off at a racing speed, leaving the doctor to
follow him through a choking cloud of dust. About three miles outside
Ballymoy, O'Donoghue, having entirely lost sight of Meldon, sat down to
rest on the side of the road. The pedal was holding to its place, and
he had no hope of seeing his companion again.
Meldon propped his bicycle up outside the door of the hotel, walked
into the hall, and shouted for Doyle.
"I could do," he said, "with a cup of tea, if you'll be so good as to
tell Sabina Gallagher to make it for me."
"I'll do that," said Doyle. "I'd do more than that for you, Mr.
Meldon. The tea will be laid out for you in the commercial room in
five minutes if so be Sabina has the kettle on the boil, and it's what
I'm always telling her she ought to see to.
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