"
"But Dr. Farr himself--Is he not something of an authority?"
"Y-es. I suppose he is."
"What information the letters contained seemed to be the real
thing."
"Oh, the letters were all right. I wrote them."
"You!"
"Didn't I tell you I was the secretary? My department is the
'information bureau.' I do not see the actual letters. There are
always personal bits which father puts in himself."
"Bits regarding boarding accommodation, etc.?"
She did not answer his smile, and her eyes grew hard as she nodded.
"Usually I can keep things from going that far. I can't quite see
how it happened so suddenly in your case."
"I happen to be a sudden person."
"Evidently. Father was quite dumbfounded when he knew you had
actually arrived. He certainly expected an interval during which he
could invent good and sufficient reasons for putting you off."
"Such as?"
"Such as smallpox. An outbreak of smallpox among the Indians is
quite a favorite with father."
"The old--I beg your pardon!"
"Don't bother. You are certainly entitled to an expression of your
feelings. It may be the only satisfaction, you will get. But aren't
we getting away from the question?" "Question?"
"When do you wish Li Ho to take you back to Vancouver?"
Professor Spence opened his lips to say that any time would suit. It
was the obvious answer, the only sensible answer, the answer which
he fully intended to make. But he did not make it.
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