Gaston whipped out his handkerchief, and stanched the blood.

She wrapped the handkerchief quickly round her hand, and then, recovering herself, ordered the animals back into their cages.

They trotted away, and the attendant locked them up.

Meanwhile Jacques had picked up and handed to Gaston a letter, dropped when he drew out his handkerchief.

It was one received two days before from Delia Gasgoyne.