"I beg pardon for intruding," began Timms, with deprecation, "but did your ladyship find Madame Sauvage's letter?"
"No," curtly replied Lady Level. "I dare say the box is lost. Not much matter if it is."
Timms withdrew, lifting her hands in condemning displeasure when she got outside. "Not much matter! if ever I heard the like of that! A whole trunk full! and some of 'em lovely!"
"Will you sit down, now, my lady, or wait for his lordship?" inquired Sanders.
Lady Level answered the question by taking her place at table. She felt as though she should never care to wait for his lordship again, for luncheon or anything else. In a few minutes a cab dashed up to the door, bringing him.
"That's right, Blanche; I am glad you did not wait for me," he began. "Sanders, is my hand-bag ready?"
"Quite, my lord."
"Put it into the cab, then."
He hastened into the study as he spoke, and began putting things straight there with a deft and rapid hand. In an incredibly short time, the papers were all in order, locked up in their various receptacles, and the table was cleared.
"Good-bye, my love," said he, returning to the front room.