Order means much to me, gentlemen. Indeed, I believe in the dame. To fall foul of her ruling does not like me at all. Unless, however, I am to play the diarist, there are times when I have no choice but to retrace my steps. This is one of them. Four windy days must be clapped back on to the hasty calendar—four days, sirs, of which three do not matter, while the fourth, or first—whichever way you look at it—concerns us mightily. In a word, it was upon the eleventh day of March that poor Mr. Slumper was also among the prophets.
66 Bedford Row,
London, W.C.
11th March, 1921.
Dear Sir,
Anthony Lyveden, Esq.
We understand that this gentleman was recently in your service.
We have to make to him a communication of the utmost importance, and one which it will be to his great advantage to receive.
Since, however, we have already addressed to him one letter c/o yourself, to which we have had no reply, and since we have reason to believe that he has quitted your service, we shall be much obliged if you will be so good as to inform us where he may now be found, or, failing that, the address to which he proceeded on leaving your house. If you should be unable to give us this information, we shall be grateful for any suggestion you may be in a position to make as to the probability of his present whereabouts.
We are, dear sir,
Yours faithfully,
BULRUSH & Co.
Joseph Bumble, Esq.,
The Shrubbery,
Hawthorne,
Hants.
Mr. Slumper was in the act of preparing to fold the letter before inserting it in the envelope which he had carefully addressed, when he saw the words "Anthony Lyveden."