But in that case, Cassy promptly reflected, I'll go to her, pull her out of bed, drag her there--and no thanks either. I didn't do it for you, I did it for him. He's too good for you.
On the mantel, a clock struck, while thinly, through a lateral entrance, Harris emerged.
"The hall-porter at Mr. Lennox' club says he's just gone out with Mr. Jones. Yes, ma'am."
"Mr. Jones! What Mr. Jones? The novelist?"
"I'm thinking so, ma'am. A very haffable gentleman."
"Try to get him. Ask if Mr. Lennox, is there. Or, no, I'll do the talking."
Then presently she was doing it, collaborating rather in the dialogue that ensued.
Cassy, swallowing it, resumed: "Mr. Jones, forgive a stranger for intruding, I----"
"Beautiful voice, forgive me. Triple brute that I am, I thought it was my aunt."
"Then let me introduce myself. This is Miss Cara."
"Mr. Jones, I must see Mr. Lennox. It is a matter of life and death."
"He is preparing for the great adventure. At this moment he is making his will. Miss Cara?"
"Lennox takes even serious matters gravely."
"In my workshop and at your service as I am."
"Enthusiastically and yet with all humility for I have no red carpet to run down the stair."
Ouf! sighed Cassy, as she hung it up. Another man who might be Mrs. Yallum's husband! She took the telephone-book, found and memorised the address and turned to Harris. "Thank you very much. Will you mind giving me that package?"
"Beg pardon, ma'am," the little man said, as he opened the door for her. "There's nothing more amiss, is there?"
Cassy covered him with her lovely eyes. "When Mr. Lennox comes back here, he may tell you to unpack."
At Jones' shop, a floor in a reconstructed private house, a man who had the air of performing a feat, showed her into a room that was summarily, but not spartanly, furnished. On one side was a bookcase supported by caryatides. Above, hung a stretch of silk on which was a flight of dragons. Above the silk was an ivory mask. Fronting the bookcase was the biggest table that Cassy had ever seen.
Jones, vacating the table, advanced to greet her. Perched on his shoulder, was a cat that peered at her. It had long hair, the colour of smoke; a bushy tail; the eyes of an angel and a ferocious moustache.