"Perhaps," answered Jack, with a grin. "At least I can assure you that it is on the authority of the author of 'Love in a Cloud' that I ask for the letter."
"But I've already refused that letter to a lady."
"To a lady?"
"To Miss Endicott."
"Miss Endicott!" echoed Jack again, in evident astonishment. "Why should she want it?"
"She said that she had the authority of the writer, as you say that you have the authority of the man it was written to."
"Did you give it to her?"
"No; but if I did not give it to her, how can I give it to you?"
Neligage had grown more sober at the mention of Miss Endicott's name; he stood looking down, and softly beating the toe of his boot with his polo mallet.
"May I ask," he said at length, raising his glance to the Count's face, "what you propose to do with the letter?"