She wrote it now without hesitation, as though she had composed the form of its message while in the company of Conway, and addressed it to Stephen Drake.

She had a question to ask him, she stated, of some importance to herself.
Would he call on Thursday afternoon and answer it?
Clarice read through the note before she sealed up the envelope.

The word _importance_ caught her eye, and she pondered over it for a moment.

She crossed it out finally and substituted _interest_.

Then she sent her letter to the post.
At breakfast on the Thursday morning, Clarice casually informed her father of Drake's visit.