Well! I
didn't stop her--I let her go."
"Let her go!" Curtis growled, his mouth full of almonds and raisins.
"You squirrel!"
"Only for a time," Kelson said, "I went to see Delmas!"
"Delmas!" Hamar interlocuted, "why the deuce Delmas?"
"Impulse!" Kelson explained, "purely impulse."
"Yes, but impulse is often a dangerous thing!" Hamar said, "it is
essential for us three, especially, to be on our guard against
impulse. What did you get out of Delmas?"
"Nothing!" Kelson said looking rather shamefaced, "But the matter
hasn't ended yet. I'm going to the theatre after I've had something to
eat. I'll tell you what happens, to-morrow."
It was late ere Kelson came down to breakfast the following day, and
Hamar and Curtis were comfortably seated in armchairs reading the
_Examiner_, when he joined them.
"Well!" Hamar said, looking up at him, "what luck?"
But Kelson wouldn't say a word till he had finished eating. He then
lolled back in his seat and began:--
"Arriving at the Baldwyn I went straight to box one. A tall figure
rose to greet me, and then, an angry voice exclaimed, 'Why it's not
Herbert! Who are you, sir? Do you know this box is engaged?'
"'I humbly beg your pardon, Miss Barlow,' I said, 'I do know it is
engaged, but I came as Mr. Delmas' deputy and friend.'
"'Came as Herbert's deputy and friend,' Ella Barlow repeated--and by
Jove the diamonds did shine--she was simply a mass of them, hair,
neck, arms and fingers--and she had been so well faked up for the
occasion that she was almost good-looking; but I thought of all I knew
about her--and shuddered.
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