companion's handiwork. A moment later, as with one consent, they all
looked up and stared at me. I looked away and smoked with careless
deliberation.
"How on earth have you done it?" gasped Daphne.
"Done what?" said I. "Oh, that? Oh, it wasn't very hard!"
"You must be better at them than you were on Saturday," said Jill.
"Have you been practising at the Blahs?"
I felt Berry was looking at me, and waited.
"Then it was a glove you were sitting on," he said slowly. Berry's a
nut--every time.
It was the first week in October, and we were back in town. They were
all out but me. Sunday afternoon it was, and I was alone in the
library finishing a little work. I do work sometimes. Suddenly the
telephone went. I picked up the receiver.
"Is that the garage?" said Girl Blue.
"No, dear. It's me. How are you?"
"Why, it's you!"
"I know. I said so just now. You're looking splendid. Oh, I am glad!
I've waited such a long time!"
"You must thank the Exchange, not me."
"Don't rub it in!"
"Well, good-bye."
"I don't think you're very kind, Girl Blue."
"No?"
"No, I don't! I've got the gloves, by the way."
"Thank you."
"I'll send them to you, care of Charing Cross Post Office, if you like,
unless you'd rather I buried them six paces due east of the fourteenth
lamp-post on the west side of Edgware Road."
"I think," she said slowly, "I think I may as well take them with me."
"Certainly, madam. Sign, please! But when, dear?"
"Well, I shall be at the Albert Hall next Friday."
"Girl Blue!"
"I don't suppose you're going, but perhaps you could send them by
someone who--"
"Under what symbol shall I meet her?"
"Wait a moment! You shall have the seventh waltz--"
"Only seven? Where is he? What is his name?"
"You heard what I said. And we'll meet under--oh, under--"
"Mistletoe," said I. "Good-bye!"
"Good-bye! Oh, Girl Blue, I forgot to say--"
"Number, please!" said Exchange.
"You've cut me off!" I roared.
"Sorry."
A pause. Then:
"Here you are."
"Hullo, dear!" I said.
"Is that the cab rank?" said a man's fat voice.
"No, it isn't," said I. "And you've got an ugly face and flat feet,
and I hate you!"
Then I rang off.
CHAPTER XV
ALL FOUND
I had seen her but once before, and that was at the Savoy on New Year's
Eve. She had been with her party at one table, and I with mine at
another. And in the midst of the reveling I h
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