"You needn't tell me unless you like," said Mrs. Verschoyle, haughtily; "I only asked from idle curiosity."
"I believe he is stopping at the Tavistock Hotel in Covent Garden."
"Oh!" carelessly, as they stepped out to the street, "this is my cab. Can I take you anywhere?"
"No, thank you," said Matteo, helping her in. "Good-bye at present. I'll see you again soon."
"I hope so," replied Mrs. Verschoyle; and Matteo walked away as the cab drove off.
Mrs. Verschoyle lay back, and smiled.
"You think you have won," she murmured, glancing at the stolen letter; "but there are always two to a game, my dear Matteo! You forget that!"
[CHAPTER XX.]
JULIAN ROPER REPORTS.
Julian Roper, alias Signor Clement, had come to London in the same boat as Mrs. Verschoyle, and had made profitable use of his time by inflaming that lady's anger. On the morning after his arrival he went to Foster's chambers, in order to make his report, and there found his employer, Ronald Monteith, in anything but a joyful frame of mind. Poor Ronald was very much cast down by the news of Carmela's engagement to the Marchese, though Foster tried to console him to the best of his ability.