attention to anything else, no matter how important!"

Then, not waiting for Narkom to signify his consent to the interruption,
as perforce he was obliged to do in the circumstances, he carried the
letter over to the window, broke the seal, and read it, his heart
getting into his eyes and his pulses drumming with that kind of
happiness which fills a man when the one woman in the world writes him a
letter.

Even if he had not recognized her handwriting, he must have known from
the postmark that it was from Ailsa Lorne, for he had no correspondent
in Devonshire, no correspondent but Narkom anywhere, for the matter of
that. His lonely life, the need for secrecy, his plan of
self-effacement, prevented that. But he had known for months that Miss
Lorne was in Devon, that she had gone there as governess in the family
of Sir Jasper Drood, when her determination not to leave England had
compelled her to resign her position as guide and preceptress to little
Lord Chepstow on the occasion of his mother's wedding with Captain
Hawksley. And now to have her write to him--to him! A sort of mist got
into his eyes and blurred everything for a moment. When it had passed
and he could see clearly, he set his back to Narkom and read these
words:

The Priory, Tuesday, June 10th.

DEAR FRIEND:

If you remember, as I so often do, that last day in London,
when you put off the demands of your duty to see me safely in
the train and on my way to this new home, you will perhaps
also remember something that you said to me at parting. You
told me that if a time ever came when I should need your
friendship or your help, I had but to ask for them. If that is
true, and I feel sure that it is, dear Mr. Cleek, I need them
now. Not for myself, however, but for one who has proved a
kind friend indeed since my coming here, and who, through me,
asks your kind aid in solving a deep and distressing mystery
and saving a threatened human life. No reward can be offered,
I fear, beyond that which comes of the knowledge of having
done a good and generous act, Mr. Cleek, for my friend is not
in a position to offer one. But I seem to feel that this will
weigh little with you, and it emboldens me to make this
appeal. So, if no other case prevents, and you really wish to
do me a favour, if you can make it convenient to be in the
neighbourhood o