“Lotta can write him a little note, you know, asking him to meet her.”
“It’s too late for that now.”
“Not at all. The note can be written at once. Wait; I’ll do it. He has never seen her handwriting. I can imitate the writing of a girl, I fancy. Where is the company stopping?”
“Lots of the chorus hang out at the Tontine,” said Bingham. “My charming friend hangs up her hat there.”
“Then it’s likely Lotta stops there. That’s good luck, for there is no trouble in getting some Tontine stationery. Get into this thing, Carker, and stop listening for the rumbling of that earthquake. Hustle over to the Tontine and get me some paper and envelopes. While you are about it, call a cab and have it stand at the corner of Temple and Elm. Get a closed cab, with curtains.”
“Ye gods!” cried Ready; “I scent a frolic! Let Carker get the paper and envelopes; I’ll attend to the cab.”
“All right. Hustle along in a lively fashion, for there is no time to spare. Have you a nice, safe place to lodge Boltwood this evening till the festivities are over?”
“Have we? Ask me! Didn’t we keep Earl Knight safe and snug when we had him? Oh, we can enclose Boltie in a dungeon cell, and he can enjoy himself reciting poems to the bare walls. La, la! There is something doing, and little Jack is himself again!”
Ready grabbed Carker by the collar and yanked him out of the room in a hurry.
“Bingham,” said Frank, “locate Boltwood, and report here as soon as possible.”