We shall sharethe ransom fifty-fifty: fifty for
Mops, twentyfive for you,twentyfive for me. Oh, its not that, though of course that
counts.
Well, is this a personal letter to be sent on to
him, oris it a dispatch? Well, I gave you a good time for the ten days, didntI? I
must ask you to beparticularly careful with this man Meek.
How did you know what was in Colonel Saxbys
letter?
By the way, Countess, I met three people yesterday
whoknow you very well.
Oh, its not that, though of course that counts.
Thank Heaven hes afool, a lovely fool: I shall be able to do as I like with him. You
call preaching things you dont believe spiritual,do you?
Since the war the lower centres have
becomevocal.
I say what I mean straightout; and if you dont like
it you can lump it. I might be constant if I were a real countess.
The bloated moribund Caliban has become a
daintyAriel.
And the oftener the faces change the more the tips
cometo, eh? They have such niceones at that confectioners near the Place
Vendôme.
He salutes; hands the letter to the colonel; and
stands atattention. By the way, Countess, I met three people yesterday whoknow you
very well. I suppose that means that you are tired of Tallboys. Well, the travellers
were just as bad, you know. No more measles: that scrap for the jewels cured you
andcured me.
Themoney we got for the necklace wont last for
ever.
He won his cross as acompany-officer, and has never
looked back since then.
We shall go abroad,where nobody will know the
difference.
Stop making idiotic faces; andget a move on. When I
love a man now its alllove and nothing else. Since the war the lower centres have
becomevocal.
It is a gift of lucidityas well as of
eloquence.
Sweetie: that touch of concern formy spiritual
welfare almost convinces me that you still love me.