“ ‘Cargo will be in at ten-fifteen to-morrow.’ That’s all. Repeat, please.”
Mr. Ganope repeated slowly, evidently as he wrote, and French settled down with his pipe to await the advent of the messenger.
In less than half an hour a sharp, foxy-looking boy turned up and Mr. Wright sent him into the sitting-room to French.
“Hullo, sonny! You from Ganope’s?”
“Huh-huh,” said the boy. “Name of Hurley?”
“That’s right. You have a message for me?”
“Huh-huh.” He slowly produced an envelope, watching French expectantly.
French produced sixpence.
“There you are, sonny. Wait half a sec till I read this. There may be an answer.”
He tore open the envelope and glanced at its contents.