"I've quite a lot to tell you," she smiled. "I'm so glad you could dine
with me--it will give us much more time."
"Time is not of the essence of this contract," he replied.
"What contract?" she asked, with a fetching little frown of perplexity.
"The contract of the present--and the future."
"Oh, you mean our friendship--and that you won't doubt me ever again?"
"Precisely--and then some," he confided.
"What is the 'some', Mr. Harleston?" frowning again in perplexity.
"Whatever may happen," he said slowly.
"You mean it?" she asked.
"I mean it--and more--when I may."
"The 'more' and the 'may' are in the future," she remarked. "Meanwhile,
what have you to report?"
"Very considerable," said he. "Mrs. Spencer was in the Collingwood, this
afternoon--in the Chartrands' apartment. And the telephone girl
recognized her as the woman who left the building on the night of
the--cab."
"That explains a lot to you!" Mrs. Clephane exclaimed.
"The explanation isn't necessary, except to complete the chain of
events," he replied. "We know the later and essential facts as to the
letter. There is just one earlier circumstance that isn't clear to me;
and while, as I say, it's immaterial yet I'm curious. How did the
Spencer gang know that I had taken the letter from the cab?"
"Oh!" Mrs.
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