"I gather," said Jonah, "that the dissolution of the preserve turned an indifferent success into a howling failure. Of course, I haven't seen the necklets but…"
"I can't pretend it's easy," said Daphne. "It isn't that there aren't any shops——"
"No," said Berry emphatically, "it isn't that."
"—but somehow… Still, if we go on long enough, we shall find something."
"That's it," said her husband. "We're going to put our backs into it this afternoon. After we've done another twelve shops without buying anything, we're going to have police protection. Not that we need it, you know, but it'll improve my morale."
"If only Sally was here," said Jill, "she could have told us where to go."
"If only her sailor would turn up," said Adèle, "we might be able to get all our presents from him."
"That's an idea," said Jonah. "What was the merchant's name?"
Amid a buzz of excitement, Daphne sent for the letter which had announced Sarah Featherstone's departure from Pau. When it arrived, she read the material portion aloud.
"… George, can't get away, so Peter and I are going home for Christmas. We'll be back the first week in January. I've told the Marats that if Planchet (the sailor who sold me the shawl, etc.) turns up before I get back, he's to be sent on to you. If he's got anything extra-special that you're not keen on, you might get it for me…"