Part 3 (1/2)
”Delete the word 'yet,' Mr. Harleston, and subst.i.tute the idea that it was--pardon me--rather gratuitous in you to meddle in the first place.”
”I don't understand,” said Harleston.
”Oh, yes you do!” she trilled. ”However, I'll be specific--it's time to be specific, you would say; though I might respond that you've known all along what my business is with you.”
”The name of an individual is a prerequisite to the transaction of business,” he interposed.
”You do not know me, Mr. Harleston.”
”Hence, your name?”
”When we meet, you'll know me by my voice.”
”True, mademoiselle, for it's one in a million; but as yet we are not met, and you desire to talk business.”
”And I'm going to talk business!” she laughed. ”And I shall not give you my name--or, if you must, know me as Madame X. Are you satisfied?”
”If you are willing to be known as Madame X,” he laughed back, ”I haven't a word to say. Pray begin.”
”Being a.s.sured now that you have never before heard my voice, and that you have it fixed sufficiently in your memory--all of which, Mr.
Harleston, wasn't in the least necessary, for we shall meet today--we will proceed. Ready?”
”Ready, mademoiselle--I mean Madame X.”
”What do you intend to do, sir, in regard to the incident of the deserted cab with the sleeping horse?” she asked.
”I have not determined. It depends on developments.”
”You see, Mr. Harleston, you were not in the least surprised at my question.”
”For a moment, a mere man may have had a clever woman's intuition,” he replied.
And, I suppose, the woman will be expected to aid developments.”
”Isn't that her present intention?”
”Not at all! Her present intention is to avoid developments so far as you are concerned, and to have matters take their intended course. It's to that end that I have ventured to call you.”
”What do you wish me to do, Madame X?”
”As if you did not know!” she mocked.
”I'm very dense at times,” he a.s.sured her.
”Dense!” she laughed. ”Shades of Talleyrand, hear the man! However, as you desire to be told, I'll tell you. I wish you to forget that you saw anything unusual on your way home this morning, and to return the articles you took from the cab.”
”To the cab?” Harleston inquired.
”No, to me.”