“Here is the Egyptian hieroglyphic. Here is a ‘hand’ that means ‘D,’ and here is the queer little Hieratic wiggle that means the same thing, and you see how the Phœnician letter is very little different to the hieroglyphic, and the Greek ‘delta’ has become a triangle, and locally it has become the ‘D’ we know.” He sketched rapidly.
“All this is horribly learned,” he said, “and has got nothing to do with the solution. But old Reale went through the strange birds, beasts and things till he found six letters, S P R I N G, which were to form the word that would open the safe.”
“It is very interesting,” she said, a little bewildered.
“The night you were taken away,” said Jimmy, “we found the word and cleared out the safe in case of accidents. It was a very risky proceeding on our part, because we had no authority from you to act on your behalf.”
“You did right,” she said. She felt it was a feeble rejoinder, but she could think of nothing better.
“And that is all,” he ended abruptly, and looked at the clock.
“You must have some tea before you go,” she said hurriedly.
They heard the weird shriek of a motor-horn outside, and Jimmy smiled.
“That is Angel’s newest discovery,” he said, not knowing whether to bless or curse his energetic friend for spoiling the tête-à-tête.