les, perhaps
Singapore with its horrible damp climate, which wouldn't suit
me--anywhere that tough and discomfort-loving Jaffery might choose to
ordain. And I was getting on so nicely with my translation of
Firdusi. . . .

"Don't forget," said I, departing bathwards, "to tell Franklin to put in
an Arctic sleeping-bag and a solar topee."

* * * * *

We drove first to the house in Queen's Gate and interviewed Mrs.
Jardine, a pretentious woman with gold earrings and elaborately done
black hair, who seemed to resent our examination as though we were
calling in question the moral character of her establishment. She did
not know where Mr. Fendihook and Mrs. Prescott had gone. She was not in
the habit of putting such enquiries to her guests.

"But one or other may have mentioned it casually," said I.

"Mr. Fendihook went away on Sunday and Mrs. Prescott on Thursday. It was
not my business to associate the two departures in any way."

By pressing the various points we learned that Fendihook was an old
client of the house. During Mrs. Considine's residence he had been
touring in America. It had been his habit to go and come without much
ceremonial. As for Liosha, she had given up her rooms, paid her bill and
departed with her trunks.

"When did she give notice to leave you?"

"I knew nothing of her intentions till Thursday morning. Then she came
with her hat on and asked for her bill and said her things were packed
and ready to be brought downstairs."

"What address did she give to the cabman?"

Mrs. Jardine did not know. She rang for the luggage porter. Jaffery
repeated his question.

"Westminster Abbey, sir," answered the man.

I laughed. It seemed rather comic. But every one else regarded it as the
most natural thing in the world. Jaffery frowned on me.

"I see nothing to laugh at. She was obeying instructions--covering up
her tracks. When she got to Westminster she told the driver to cross the
bridge--and what railway station is the other end of the bridge?"

"Waterloo," said I.

"And from Waterloo the train goes to Southampton, and from Southampton
the boat leaves for Havre. There's nothing funny, believe me."

I said no more.

The porter was dismissed. Jaffery drew the letter from his pocket.

"On the other hand she was in London yesterday afternoon in this
district, for here is the 5:45 postmark."

"Oh, I posted that letter," said Mrs. Jardine.

"You?" cried Jaffery