But the sudden flame that had animated her appeared to die away; she became once more her beautiful exotic self.
"I have worked for the cause since——" she stopped.
She, as it were, returned to earth.
"Bernard," she said, when she had smoked a few minutes in silence, "I have something to show you."
She rose, crossed the room, and unlocked a buhl cabinet. A moment later she returned to John, and handed him an envelope. Within was a closely written letter beginning: "Dearest Alice."
As John glanced at the writing Mrs. Beecher Monmouth came behind him, and laid her manicured finger-nail on the bottom four lines of the first sheet.
"That is all you need read," she said.
The four lines at which she pointed ran:
"If you think Treves has the courage for the task I will take your word for it—he shall be the man!"
CHAPTER X