"Allen, Grant - Miss Cayley's Adventures 03 - The Adenture of the Inquisitive American" - читать интересную книгу автора (Allen Grant)

He had difficulty in fathoming the depths of my ignorance.
But by degrees I understood him. It seemed that the German
Imperial and Prussian Royal Governments had offered a
Kaiserly and Kingly prize for the best military bicycle; the
course to be run over the Taunus, from Frankfort to Limburg;
the winning machine to get the equivalent and of a thousand
pounds; each firm to supply its own make and rider. The
'last day' was Saturday next; and the Great Manitou was the
dark horse of the contest.

Then all was clear as day to me. Mr. Cyrus W. Hitchcock
was keeping his machine a profound secret; he wanted a woman
to ride it, so that his triumph might be the more complete;
and the moment he saw me pedal up the hill, in trying to
avoid him, he recognised at once that I was that woman.

I recognised it too. 'Twas a pre-ordained harmony. After
two or three trials I felt that the Manitou was built for
me, and I was built for the Manitou. We ran together like
parts of one mechanism. I was always famed for my circular
ankle-action; and in this new machine, ankle-action was
everything. Strength of limb counted for naught; what told
was the power of 'clawing up again' promptly. I possess
that power: I have prehistoric feet: my remote progenitors
must certainly have been tree-haunting monkeys.

We arranged terms then and there.

'You accept?'

'Implicitly.'

If I pulled off the race, I was to have fifty pounds. If
I didn't, I was to have five. 'It ain't only your skill,
you see,' Mr. Hitchcock said, with frank commercialism.
'Its your personal attractiveness as well that I go upon.
That's an element to consider in business relations.'

'My face is my fortune,' I answered, gravely. He nodded
acquiescence.

Till Saturday, then, I was free. Meanwhile, I trained,
and practised quietly with the Manitou, in sequestered parts
of the hills. I also took spells, turn about, at the Stadel
Institute. I like to intersperse culture and athletics. I
know something about athletics, and hope in time to acquire
a taste for culture. 'Tis expected of a Girton girl, though
my own accomplishments run rather towards rowing, punting,
bicycling.