29/38 He wanted to know if I were playing a joke on him, and then told me that he had had a letter with the initials M.A.T. H.S.N, but he had given it up three days ago, to a lady who came for it. 'You come to-day to claim the letter, and the day before yesterday another gentleman claimed it! I've had enough of this,' he concluded angrily. I tried to question him as to the two persons who had already claimed the letter; but whether he wished to entrench himself behind professional secrecy,--he may have thought that he had already said too much,--or whether he was disgusted at the joke that had been played on him--he would not answer any of my questions." Rouletabille paused. |