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 believe me, monsieur, I am sorry, oh, very sorry for so stupid a mistake! Anything I can do, me, I will be so glad; monsieur has only to say."

"Thanks. Just get those messages off, please."

"At once, this moment, monsieur!" The agent disappeared from the window and the instrument began to click. Wade turned and surveyed the uncompromising black fur coat. He discovered that it was going to require a good deal of courage to do what common sense and ordinary courtesy as well as his own desire demanded. He approached the stove.

"I can't tell you how sorry I am, Miss Burnett," he began. "That conductor ought to be tarred-and-feathered."

She looked across at him coldly and distantly for a brief instant. Then, with a slight inclination of her head, she returned to her occupation of drying her shoe.

"Four or five hours here isn't a very cheerful prospect," he went on, "but I