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〃Oh yes； she came； but there has been some mistake。 We want a
telegram。〃
〃A telegram？〃
〃One that was sent from here ever so long ago。 There was something
in it that has to be recovered。 Something very； very important；
pleasewe want it immediately。〃
He really spoke to her as if she had been some strange young woman
at Knightsbridge or Paddington； but it had no other effect on her
than to give her the measure of his tremendous flurry。 Then it was
that； above all； she felt how much she had missed in the gaps and
blanks and absent answershow much she had had to dispense with：
it was now black darkness save for this little wild red flare。 So
much as that she saw； so much her mind dealt with。 One of the
lovers was quaking somewhere out of town； and the other was quaking
just where he stood。 This was vivid enough； and after an instant
she knew it was all she wanted。 She wanted no detail； no factshe
wanted no nearer vision of discovery or shame。 〃When was your
telegram？ Do you mean you sent it from here？〃 She tried to do the
young woman at Knightsbridge。
〃Oh yes； from hereseveral weeks ago。 Five； six； seven〃he was
confused and impatient〃don't you remember？〃
〃Remember？〃 she could scarcely keep out of her face； at the word；
the strangest of smiles。
But the way he didn't catch what it meant was perhaps even stranger
still。 〃I mean； don't you keep the old ones？〃
〃For a certain time。〃
〃But how long？〃
She thought； she must do the young woman； and she knew exactly what
the young woman would say and； still more； wouldn't。 〃Can you give
me the date？〃
〃Oh God； no！ It was some time or other in Augusttoward the end。
It was to the same address as the one I gave you last night。〃
〃Oh！〃 said the girl； knowing at this the deepest thrill she had
ever felt。 It came to her there； with her eyes on his face； that
she held the whole thing in her hand； held it as she held her
pencil； which might have broken at that instant in her tightened
grip。 This made her feel like the very fountain of fate； but the
emotion was such a flood that she had to press it back with all her
force。 That was positively the reason； again； of her flute…like
Paddington tone。 〃You can't give us anything a little nearer？〃
Her 〃little〃 and her 〃us〃 came straight from Paddington。 These
things were no false note for himhis difficulty absorbed them
all。 The eyes with which he pressed her； and in the depths of
which she read terror and rage and literal tears； were just the
same he would have shown any other prim person。
〃I don't know the date。 I only know the thing went from here； and
just about the time I speak of。 It wasn't delivered； you see。
We've got to recover it。〃
CHAPTER XXIII
She was as struck with the beauty of his plural pronoun as she had
judged he might be with that of her own； but she knew now so well
what she was about that she could almost play with him and with her
new…born joy。 〃You say 'about the time you speak of。' But I don't
think you speak of an exact timedo you？〃
He looked splendidly helpless。 〃That's just what I want to find
out。 Don't you keep the old ones？can't you look it up？〃
Our young ladystill at Paddingtonturned the question over。 〃It
wasn't delivered？〃
〃Yes； it WAS； yet； at the same time； don't you know？ it wasn't。〃
He just hung back； but he brought it out。 〃I mean it was
intercepted； don't you know？ and there was something in it。〃 He
paused again and； as if to further his quest and woo and supplicate
success and recovery； even smiled with an effort at the agreeable
that was almost ghastly and that turned the knife in her
tenderness。 What must be the pain of it all； of the open gulf and
the throbbing fever； when this was the mere hot breath？ 〃We want
to get what was in itto know what it was。〃
〃I seeI see。〃 She managed just the accent they had at Paddington
when they stared like dead fish。 〃And you have no clue？〃
〃Not at allI've the clue I've just given you。〃
〃Oh the last of August？〃 If she kept it up long enough she would
make him really angry。
〃Yes； and the address； as I've said。〃
〃Oh the same as last night？〃
He visibly quivered； as with a gleam of hope； but it only poured
oil on her quietude； and she was still deliberate。 She ranged some
papers。 〃Won't you look？〃 he went on。
〃I remember your coming；〃 she replied。
He blinked with a new uneasiness； it might have begun to come to
him； through her difference； that he was somehow different himself。
〃You were much quicker then； you know！〃
〃So were youyou must do me that justice；〃 she answered with a
smile。 〃But let me see。 Wasn't it Dover？〃
〃Yes； Miss Dolman〃
〃Parade Lodge； Parade Terrace？〃
〃Exactlythank you so awfully much！〃 He began to hope again。
〃Then you HAVE itthe other one？〃
She hesitated afresh； she quite dangled him。 〃It was brought by a
lady？〃
〃Yes； and she put in by mistake something wrong。 That's what we've
got to get hold of！〃 Heavens； what was he going to say？flooding
poor Paddington with wild betrayals！ She couldn't too much； for
her joy； dangle him； yet she couldn't either； for his dignity； warn
or control or check him。 What she found herself doing was just to
treat herself to the middle way。 〃It was intercepted？〃
〃It fell into the wrong hands。 But there's something in it；〃 he
continued to blurt out； 〃that MAY be all right。 That is； if it's
wrong； don't you know？ It's all right if it's wrong；〃 he
remarkably explained。
What WAS he； on earth； going to say？ Mr。 Buckton and the counter…
clerk were already interested； no one would have the decency to
come in； and she was divided between her particular terror for him
and her general curiosity。 Yet she already saw with what
brilliancy she could add； to carry the thing off； a little false
knowledge to all her real。 〃I quite understand；〃 she said with
benevolent； with almost patronising quickness。 〃The lady has
forgotten what she did put。〃
〃Forgotten most wretchedly； and it's an immense inconvenience。 It
has only just been found that it didn't get there； so that if we
could immediately have it〃
〃Immediately？〃
〃Every minute counts。 You have；〃 he pleaded； 〃surely got them on
file？〃
〃So that you can see it on the spot？〃
〃Yes； pleasethis very minute。〃 The counter rang with his
knuckles； with the knob of his stick； with his panic of alarm。
〃Do； DO hunt it up！〃 he repeated。
〃I dare say we could get it for you；〃 the girl weetly returned。
〃Get it？〃he looked aghast。 〃When？〃
〃Probably by to…morrow。〃
〃Then it isn't here？〃his face was pitiful。
She caught only the uncovered gleams that peeped out of the
blackness； and she wondered what complication； even among the most
supposable； the very worst； could be bad enough to account for the
degree of his terror。 There w