My predominant feeling
was one of gratification. Mary loved me! Mary expected me!
There was complete mental sympathy between Mary and myself!
"I went up to my room in a state of great contentment. I had
been there about half an hour when my friend the waiter came
in. Advancing toward me with a mysterious air, he took a blank
envelope out of his pocket and held it up before me with a
roguish smile.
"`Monsieur will know the handwriting inside,' he said cunningly.
"Now I had never corresponded with Lady Mary, and of course did
not know her handwriting, but I saw no use in telling the waiter
that. In truth, I thought the fellow quite familiar enough. So
I said shortly and with some hauteur:
"`Give me the note;' and I took another piece of gold out of my
pocket. We exchanged our possessions, the waiter withdrew with a
wink, and I tore open the precious note.
"`Whatever you do,' it ran, `don't recognize me. I am WATCHED.
As soon as I can I will tell you where to meet me. I knew you
would come.--M.'
"`The darling!' I exclaimed. `She's a girl of spirit. I'll take
good care not to betray her. Oh, we'll circumvent old Dibbs
between us.'
"At eight o'clock I went down to the salle a manger. It was
quite empty. Mary and Miss Dibbs no doubt dined in their own
sitting room, and there appeared to be no one else in the hotel.
However, when I was halfway through my meal, a stylishly dressed
young woman came in and sat down at a table at the end of the
room farthest from where I was.
Pages:
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37