"Oh, yes you do!" she trilled. "However, I'll be specific--it's time to be specific, you would say; though I might respond that you've known all along what my business is with you."
"The name of an individual is a prerequisite to the transaction of business," he interposed.
"When we meet, you'll know me by my voice."
"True, mademoiselle, for it's one in a million; but as yet we are not met, and you desire to talk business."
"And I'm going to talk business!" she laughed. "And I shall not give you my name--or, if you must, know me as Madame X. Are you satisfied?"
"If you are willing to be known as Madame X," he laughed back, "I haven't a word to say. Pray begin."
"Being assured now that you have never before heard my voice, and that you have it fixed sufficiently in your memory--all of which, Mr. Harleston, wasn't in the least necessary, for we shall meet today--we will proceed. Ready?"
"What do you intend to do, sir, in regard to the incident of the deserted cab with the sleeping horse?" she asked.
"I have not determined. It depends on developments."
"You see, Mr. Harleston, you were not in the least surprised at my question."
"For a moment, a mere man may have had a clever woman's intuition," he replied.
And, I suppose, the woman will be expected to aid developments."
"Not at all! Her present intention is to avoid developments so far as you are concerned, and to have matters take their intended course. It's to that end that I have ventured to call you."
"I'm very dense at times," he assured her.
"Dense!" she laughed. "Shades of Talleyrand, hear the man! However, as you desire to be told, I'll tell you. I wish you to forget that you saw anything unusual on your way home this morning, and to return the articles you took from the cab."
"A sealed envelope containing a message in cipher."
"Oh, you may keep the roses, Mr. Harleston, for your reward!" she laughed.
She had not missed the handkerchief, or else she thought it of no consequence.
"Assuming, for the moment, that I have the articles in question, how are they to be gotten to you?"
"Simply that I shall not even consider surrendering the articles, assuming that I have them, to any one but you."
"You will surrender them to _me_?" she whispered.