The Argosy — page 141: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

126 A Tragedy. Paul hasn’t got it? Please tell him, sir, from me, that I’d respectfully suggest he should look well about his desk and places.” Evidently it was not at this side the letter had been lost—if lost it was. Mr. Preen wished the post-mistress good morning, and walked away. Her suggestion had impressed him ; he began to think it very likely indeed that Paul had overlooked the letter on its arrival, and would find it about his desk, or table, or some other receptacle for papers. He drove over to Islip in the gig in the afternoon, taking Oliver with him. Islip reached, he left Oliver in the gig, to wait at the door or drive slowly about as he pleased, while he went into the office to, as he expressed it, “‘ have it out with Paul.” Not at once, however, could he do that, for Mr. Paul was out; but he saw ‘Tom Chandler. The offices, situated in the heart of Islip, and not a stone’s throw from the offices of Valentine Chandler, consisted of three rooms, all on the ground floor. The clerks’ room was in front, its windows (painted white, so that no one could see in or out) faced the street ; Mr. Paul’s room lay behind it and looked on toa garden. ‘There was also a small ship of a room, not much better than a passage, into which Mr. Paul could take clients whose business was very private indeed. Tom Chandler, about to be made a partner, had a desk in Mr. Paul’s room as well as one in the clerks’ room. It was at the latter that he usually sat. On this afternoon he was seated at his desk in Mr. Paul’s room when Gervais Preen entered. ‘Tom received him with a smile and a hand-shake, and gave him a chair. “Pve come about that letter, Mr. Chandler,” began the visitor ; “‘my letter with the ten-pound bank-note in it, which Mr. Paul denies having received.” ‘“‘T assure you no such letter was received by us ‘“‘Tt was addressed in a plain handwriting to Mr. Paul himself, and protected by a seal of red wax with my crest upon it,” irritably inter- rupted the applicant, who hated to be contradicted. ‘‘Mr. Preen, you may believe me when I tell you the letter never reached us,” said ‘Tom, a smile crossing his candid, handsome face at the other’s irritability. “Then where is the letter? What became of it?” ‘“‘T should say perhaps it was never posted,” mildly suggested Tom. “Not posted!” tartly echoed Mr. Preen. ‘ Why I posted it myself; as Dame Sym, over at Duck Brook, can testify. And my son also, for that matter; he stood by and saw me put it into the box. Dame Sym sent it away in the bag with the rest; she remembers the letter perfectly.” “Tt never was delivered to us,” said Tom, shaking his head. ‘If —— oh, here is Mr. Paul.” The portly lawyer came into the room, pushing back his iron 9 CORMICMOOOKS Ola g)