"I dare say," was his remark, "that any letter that's been given to Graham to mail in the last week is there. Why, this letter is addressed to Christopher Calumus."
May Calthorpe moved forward so quickly that Mrs. Harbinger, who had extended her hand to take the letters from her husband, turned to restrain the girl. Mrs. Croydon swayed forward a little.
"That is the author of 'Love in a Cloud,'" she said with a simper of self-consciousness.
Mrs. Neligage, who was standing with Bradish and Alice at the moment, made a grimace.
"She'll really have the impudence to take it," she said to them aside. "Now see me give that woman a lesson."
She swept forward in a flash, and deftly took the letter out of Tom Harbinger's hand before he knew her intention. Flourishing it over her head, she looked them all over with eyes full of fun and mischief.
"Honor to whom honor is due," she cried. "Ladies and gentlemen, be it my high privilege to deliver this to its real and only owner. Count," she went on, sweeping him a profound courtesy, "let your light shine. Behold in Count Shimbowski the too, too modest author of 'Love in a Cloud.'"
There was a general outburst of amazement. The Count looked at the letter which had been thrust into his hand, and stammered something unintelligible.
"Vraiment, Madame Neleegaze," he began, "eet ees too mooch of you—"
"Oh, don't say anything," she interrupted him. "I have no other pleasure in life than doing mischief."