After the Race

           ThecarscamescuddingintowardsDublin,runningevenlylikepelletsinthegrooveoftheNaasRoad.AtthecrestofthehillatInchicoresightseershadgatheredinclumpstowatchthecarscareeringhomewardandthroughthischannelofpovertyandinactiontheContinentspeditswealthandindustry.Nowandagaintheclumpsofpeopleraisedthecheerofthegratefullyoppressed.Theirsympathy,however,wasforthebluecars—thecarsoftheirfriends,theFrench.

           TheFrench,moreover,werevirtualvictors.Theirteamhadfinishedsolidly;theyhadbeenplacedsecondandthirdandthedriverofthewinningGermancarwasreportedaBelgian.Eachbluecar,therefore,receivedadoublemeasureofwelcomeasittoppedthecrestofthehillandeachcheerofwelcomewasacknowledgedwithsmilesandnodsbythoseinthecar.InoneofthesetrimlybuiltcarswasapartyoffouryoungmenwhosespiritsseemedtobeatpresentwellabovethelevelofsuccessfulGallicism:infact,thesefouryoungmenwerealmosthilarious.TheywereCharlesSegouin,theownerofthecar;AndreRiviere,ayoungelectricianofCanadianbirth;ahugeHungariannamedVillonaandaneatlygroomedyoungmannamedDoyle.Segouinwasingoodhumourbecausehehadunexpectedlyreceivedsomeordersinadvance(hewasabouttostartamotorestablishmentinParis)andRivierewasingoodhumourbecausehewastobeappointedmanageroftheestablishment;thesetwoyoungmen(whowerecousins)werealsoingoodhumourbecauseofthesuccessoftheFrenchcars.