Thank you so much for the flowers you sent me at the King Edward in Hong Kong. They were lovely. So sorry we shan't see you again. I remember you said you'd be in Manila the tenth of this month. Dad has changed his plans and wants to get back home, so we leave Manila by the Taming on the eleventh. We are going up to Dagupan by train and will reach Manila to sail by noon. So, if you do get to Manila on the tenth, I think it would be jolly to see you on board. We'll go directly from the station to the tender. I'll address this on the machine, so it'll look most businesslike, for Mr. Wilkins, the clerk, is prone to gossip. Thank you again for your kindness in Hong Kong and your many kindnesses to Dad and me on board the Manchuria.
Sincerely,
Marjorie Locke.
Trask, smiling broadly, put the letter into his pocket.
"That must be good news, sir. Hope it is. Shall we go out on the big veranda for our nip? Cooler out there."
"What? Yes, certainly," said Trask, reminded of where he was as he looked up to see the bar-boy standing beside him and Wilkins waiting. In spite of the fact that the letter was ample proof that Miss Locke was gone, it had put his head in a whirl. At least she hadn't forgotten. He followed Wilkins.
"You look quite bucked up now," said Wilkins, as he pulled out a chair beside a marble-topped table.
"I do feel better," admitted Trask. "Just the same, I'm bitterly disappointed. No doubt I'm ungrateful, but I've played in rotten luck."
"You expected to meet the Lockes?" suggested Wilkins. "Too bad."
"Yes," said Trask, and taking a glass from the bar-boy, sat down.