To Thresk it seemed that the man had suddenly withdrawn himself altogether and left merely an image with living eyes.

He shrugged his shoulders.

He knew that change in his servant.

It came at the first note of reproach in his voice and with such completeness that it gave him the shock of a conjurer's trick.

One moment the bearer was before him, the next he had disappeared.
"What did you do with the letter ?" Thresk asked and was careful that there should be no exasperation in his voice.
The bearer came to life again, his white teeth gleamed in smiles.
"I leave the letter.