"I opened the telegram.
"'Detain Conrad Godwin coming by boat from Harwich.'
"'I fancy, M. le Baron, someone has been hoaxing you.'
"'Hoaxing me! What you mean?'
"'It strikes me that if I make public the usage to which you have subjected me, you are a ruined man.'
"'Une jolie femme! Elle marche! And if I make public the treatment which you have accorded to the chief of the police, how is that for you--eh?'
"'Very good. We will leave it so. I will communicate with our ambassador, our ambassador will communicate with your Government, your Government will communicate with you.'
"'Mees Nash, I do not understand.'
"'Baron d'Ardigny, if you call me "Mees Nash" again I shall box your ears. I was married yesterday, and, as I have already told you, I am Mrs. Conrad Godwin.'
"Dear mamma, I think I should have boxed them. He was so provoking. But while we were staring at one another--the little man looked thunderstruck!--the door of the room opened and--Conrad entered.