‘You’re mad, I think,’ said Mr Maggleby. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, read this, sir,’ answered Mr Doddard, and he handed the Times to his principal and pointed to the paragraph.
Mr Maggleby testily took the paper, adjusted his spectacles, and read:
‘Extraordinary Discovery at Plymouth.—The corporation of Plymouth recently decided to remove an old and disused pump which for many years has stood handleless and dry on the Hoe. Yesterday morning, some workmen proceeded to remove it, and in its interior they were astonished to discover a number of letters, which had, it is supposed, been put into the hole into which the handle formerly fitted, under the delusion that the pump was a post-office pillar letter-box. The letters were at once taken to the Plymouth post-office, and were without delay forwarded to their destinations.’
‘Can it be true?’ ejaculated Mr Maggleby, with a great sigh of relief. ‘Then the fact of the Camel having been signalled last night off Dover is merely a coincidence?’
‘Most certainly,’ said Mr Doddard.
‘Thank Heaven!’ cried Mr Maggleby fervently. ‘Send the cab away, Doddard. But no! I’ll go home again at once, and set my poor wife at ease. Ha, ha! I do remember now, that when poor Mr Pudster came home from his last voyage, he discovered that some letters which he had posted at Plymouth had not been delivered. We didn’t miss them, because, as you recollect, Doddard, he wrote again from Southampton.’
‘Of course he did, sir,’ said Mr Doddard. ‘Well, let us congratulate ourselves. It would have been a fearful business for Mrs Maggleby to have to go through.’
‘And it would have been bad for you, Doddard, for it would have spoilt your chance of a partnership for some time to come. Now, I’m off.’
Mr Maggleby put the Times in his pocket, and departed; and when he reached his home and showed the paper to his wife, the couple sat together for at least half an hour, talking over the extraordinary nature of the adventure.