was on the envelope!

He wrote:

I don't understand your wish, dear Princess. It seems like
deliberate torture of Joyce and me that she should be present when
I am visited by the spirit of June--for that is what actually
happens. June materializes. I see her, as well as hear her voice.
Can Joyce bear this? You seem to think she can, and so I must. For
you are a friend of friends, and you wouldn't put me to such a test
without the best of reasons.

I expected that Miss Reardon would refuse to receive strangers on
such an occasion. But rather to my surprise she has consented, and
a seance is arranged for this evening at nine o'clock in her rooms.
To-morrow would have been too late, as she is leaving for the south
of France, to stay with some American millionairess at Cannes, who
hopes to get into touch with a son on the Other Side. You see, I
don't use that old, cold word "dead." I couldn't now I know how
near, and how like their earthly selves, are those who go beyond.

So you are engaged to be married! Don't think I'm indifferent
because I leave mention of your news till the last. I'm deeply
interested. Bless you, Princess!

Yours ever, R. L.

I read this letter, destroying it (in case Joyce became importunate),
and then broke it to her that Robert earnestly wished us to attend the
last seance with Miss Reardon.

She turned sickly white.

"I can't go!" she almost sobbed. "I simply can't."

Then I said that it would hurt Robert horribly if she didn't. He
wouldn't have asked such a thing without the strongest motive. I would
be with her, I went on; and tried to pull her thoughts up out of tragic
gulfs by springing the news of my engagement upon her. It may have
sounded irrelevant, almost heartlessly so, but it braced the girl. And
she little guessed that the engagement would not exist save for Robert
and her!

I 'phoned Jim at the address on his letter, a house in Westminster
which--when I happened to notice--was in the same street as Opal
Fawcett's. It was a relief to hear his voice answer "Hello!" for he had
demanded immediate knowledge of our plans; and goodness knew what
mysterious preparations for his _coup_ he might have to elaborate.

He would meet us at the Savoy, he said, at 8:45, and I could introduce
him to Miss Reardon before the seance began.

Joyce and I started at 8:30, in a taxi, having made a mer