e?"

Amid a buzz of excitement, Daphne sent for the letter which had
announced Sarah Featherstone's departure from Pau. When it arrived,
she read the material portion aloud.

"_... George, can't get away, so Peter and I are going home for
Christmas. We'll be back the first week in January. I've told the
Marats that if Planchet (the sailor who sold me the shawl, etc.) turns
up before I get back, he's to be sent on to you. If he's got anything
extra-special that you're not keen on, you might get it for me..._"

"Well, I never thought I should live to say it," said Berry, "but,
after what I've gone through this morning, if Planchet were to totter
in this afternoon, laden with at once cheap and pretentious goods, I
should fall upon his bull neck."

"Who," said I, "are the Marats?"

"They're the married couple who run the flat. I believe they're
wonderful. Sally says she never knew what service was before."

"I do hope," said Jill, twittering, "they don't make any mistake."

"I've no fear of that," said Adele. "I can't answer for the man,
because we didn't see him, but Madame Marat's no fool."

"Incidentally," said I, "it's one thing giving Planchet our address,
but it's quite another persuading him to fetch up. He may have other
sheep to shear."

"We can only pray that he hasn't," said Daphne. "It's too much to
expect him to have another shawl, but I should like the first pick of
what he has."

Berry regarded his wife.

"If," he said, "you will swear to select from his wares all the
blinkin' presents with which you propose to signalise this Yuletide,
I'll--I'll tie them all up without a word."

"Same here," said I. "Our gifts will cost us more, but we shall live
the longer."

"Ditto," said Jonah.

The girls agreed cheerfully, and, before luncheon was over, it had been
decided to give Planchet three days in which to make his appearance,
and that, if he had not arrived by that time, then and then only should
we resort to the shops.

Less than an hour had elapsed, and we were just about to make ready to
take the air by the simple expedient of proceeding at a high speed in
the direction of Biarritz, when Falcon entered the room.

"There's an individual, madam, 'as come to the door----"

"Planchet? Is it Planchet?"

"I'm afraid I can 'ardly say, madam, but 'e 'as this address upon a
piece of note-paper, madam, and----"

"All right, Falcon, I'll come."

The butler's valiant endeavours to