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 "You wont leave it there on the table, I suppose."

"I have delivered it to the person to whom it is addressed."

"Is it addressed to me?"

"It is addressed to the author of Spoils. If the author of Spoils is not the dream of beauty you described to her namesake that is your look-out not mine. Seriously, Jack, I don't see but that you've got to read the letter. She evidently expects an answer toit. Either that," I added, "or make a clean breast of it."

The "either, or" is usually John's method, but this time it did not seem to appeal to him. It must be confessed, too, that his adviser was rather half-hearted in his counsel. So we beat about the bush in an unsatisfactory manner, till suddenly John seized a pen and cut the gordian knot, so to speak, by filling out the address: