"I see, Hobbs. Well, where is it?"
Hobbs looked embarrassed. "Well, you see, sir, I 'esitated about giving it to you when you appear to be so—"
"Never mind. You may give it to me. Miss Guile will surely pardon me if I devote a second or two to an occupation she followed so earnestly up to a very short time ago."
"Pray forget that I am present, Mr. Schmidt," she said, and smiled upon the bewildered Hobbs, who after an instant delivered the message to his master.
Robin read it through and at the end whistled softly.
"Take it to Mr. Totten, Hobbs, and see if it will not serve to make him hold up his head a little."
"Very good, sir. I hope it will. Wouldn't it be wise for me to hannounce who it is from, sir, to sort of prepare him for—"
"He knows who it is from, Hobbs, so you needn't worry. It is from home, if it will interest you, Hobbs."
"Thank you, sir, it does interest me. I thought it might be from Mr. Blithers."
Robin's scowl sent him scuttling away a great deal more rigidly than when he came.