"You admit, then, that the envelope was given you?" Sharon was asking truculently as Benito entered.
"Yes," said Robert, "I remember seeing such a letter as I packed my mail."
"Humph!" exclaimed Sharon. He seemed about to ask another question, but the postal official anticipated him. "Explain what happened after you left the mail station."
"Nothing much ... I walked up Washington street as usual. On the edge of Chinatown a woman stopped me ... asked me how to get to Market street."
"Is that all?"
"Yes, that's all," said Robert. "She seemed confused by our criss-cross streets. I had to tell her several times ... to point the way before she understood."
"And nothing else happened?"
"Nothing else--except that Mr. Ralston asked me for the letter. Said he was expecting it.... I searched my bag but couldn't find it."
"Tell us more about this woman. Give us a description of her."
"Spanish type," said Robert tersely. "Very pleasant; smiled a lot and had gold fillings in her teeth. Must have been quite handsome when she was young."