Page:O Genteel Lady! (1926).pdf/235

 She looked up from her letter and, although she knew, asked her breakfast companions where the offices of Clapyard & Dunster might be.

'Really, an English lady would hardly try to find it on foot, but then we are not accustomed to mixing in the business world...'

She got her cab and went, found Mr. Clapyard still in his pathetically soiled waistcoat, his cousin reading manuscripts out loud to him in her cutting voice. 'She cried to her natural protector "Help help" but there was no help. She leaped upon the rock and gazed upon the abyss yawning below her...'

'Ah,' said Mr. Clapyard, smiling indulgently, 'I'm beginning to yawn, too. Try another one, Effie.'

The girl clutched the amber at her throat. 'Would you like a long poem on the death of Wellington?' Then she looked up and saw Lanice looking in. 'Here is an American, '  she said with rude emphasis. 'I suppose she has business with you.'

'If I may interrupt,' said Lanice gently, 'I'm Miss Bardeen, with a small matter of business from Mr. Fox.'

She took the chair offered her and discussed her errand and answered the publisher's questions about her adventures among the littérateurs. The cousin went to the window and stared out at the rain which had begun to course upon the dingy pane.

'And one more thing,' said Lanice, without glancing at the hostile back. 'I wish I had Captain Jones's address. I want to ask him about some captions.' She had taken the first great step with complete ease.