ost. It looks as
if it had gone through so much. But this was the first time I had ever
seen an envelop of mine eating its heart out in bondage on a
letter-board. This was outrageous. This was hardly to be believed.
Sheer kindness had impelled me to write to "A. V. Laider, Esq.," and
this was the result! I hadn't minded receiving no answer. Only now,
indeed, did I remember that I hadn't received one. In multitudinous
London the memory of A. V. Laider and his trouble had soon passed from
my mind. But--well, what a lesson not to go out of one's way to write
to casual acquaintances!

My envelop seemed not to recognize me as its writer. Its gaze was the
more piteous for being blank. Even so had I once been gazed at by a
dog that I had lost and, after many days, found in the Battersea Home.
"I don't know who you are, but, whoever you are, claim me, take me out
of this!" That was my dog's appeal. This was the appeal of my envelop.

I raised my hand to the letter-board, meaning to effect a swift and
lawless rescue, but paused at sound of a footstep behind me. The old
waiter had come to tell me that my luncheon was ready. I followed him
out of the hall, not, however, without a bright glance across my
shoulder to reassure the little captive that I should come back.

I had the sharp appetite of the convalescent, and this the sea air had
whetted already to a finer edge. In touch with a dozen oysters, and
with stout, I soon shed away the unreasoning anger I had felt against
A. V. Laider. I became merely sorry for him that he had not received
a letter which might perhaps have comforted him. In touch with
cutlets, I felt how sorely he had needed comfort. And anon, by the big
bright fireside of that small dark smoking-room where, a year ago, on
the last evening of my stay here, he and I had at length spoken to each
other, I reviewed in detail the tragic experience he had told me; and I
simply reveled in reminiscent sympathy with him.

A. V. LAIDER--I had looked him up in the visitors'-book on the night of
his arrival. I myself had arrived the day before, and had been rather
sorry there was no one else staying here. A convalescent by the sea
likes to have some one to observe, to wonder about, at meal-time. I
was glad when, on my second evening, I found seated at the table
opposite to mine another guest. I was the gladder because he was just
the right kind of guest. He was enigmatic. By this I mean that he d