tions had no effect upon me.
I must have Sylvia's wasp, no matter what happened.

Back to the house we dashed, and up-stairs I ran. I took down the card
to which the wasp was affixed, I found a little box in which to put it,
and while I was looking for a rubber band by which to secure the lid, a
servant came hurriedly into the room with a telegram for me. I tore it
open. It was from Miss Laniston and read thus:--

"Come to me as soon as you can. Important business."

"Important business!" I ejaculated. "She can have no business with me
that does not concern Sylvia. I will go to her instantly." In a few
seconds I was in the carriage, shouting to the man to drive as fast as
he could.

"Yes, indeed," said Walkirk, "you cannot go too fast."

I handed my companion the telegram. He read it blankly.

"It is a pity," he said, "if the business is important. All that can be
done now is to telegraph to her that she must write to you in London by
the next steamer."

"I shall do nothing of the kind," said I, "I am going to her the instant
we reach New York."

Walkirk clenched his hands together, and looked away. He had no words
for this situation.

My temper was very different.

"What a wonderful piece of luck!" I exclaimed. "If we had kept on to the
station, by this short cut, the telegraph boy, who of course came by the
main road, would have missed me, and there would not have been time for
him to get back to the station before the train started. How fortunate
it was that I went back for that wasp."

"Wasp!" almost screamed Walkirk, and by the way he looked at me, I know
he imagined that I was temporarily insane.

We caught the train, and on the way I explained my allusion to the wasp
so far as to assure Walkirk that I was no more crazy than men badly
crossed in love are apt to be.

"But are you really going to Miss Laniston?" he said.

"I shall be able to drive up there, give her fifteen minutes with five
as a margin, and reach the steamer in time. You can go directly to the
dock, and attend to the baggage and everything."

My under-study sighed, but he knew it was of no use to make any
objections. He did not fail, however, to endeavor to impress upon me the
importance of consulting my watch while listening to Miss Laniston's
communication.

My plan was carried out; we separated as soon as we reached the city,
and in a cab I rattled to Miss Laniston's house.

XLVII.

I INTEREST MISS LANISTON.