"These letters are wonderful," Philippa told him gratefully. "You
know from whom they come, of course. Dick is my twin brother, and
until the war we had scarcely ever been parted. Miss Fairclough
here is engaged to be married to him. It is quite two months since
we had a line, and I myself have been in London for the last three
days, three very weary days, making enquiries everywhere."

"I am very happy," he said, "to have brought you such good news."

Once more the normal aspect of the situation began to reimpose
itself upon the two women. They remembered the locked door, the
secrecy of their visitor's entrance, and his disordered condition.

"May I ask to whom we are indebted for this great service?" Philippa
enquired.

"My name for the present is Hamar Lessingham," was the suave reply.

"For the present?" Philippa repeated. "You have perhaps, some
explanations to make," she went on, with some hesitation; "the
condition of your clothes, your somewhat curious form of entrance?"

"With your permission."

"One moment," Helen intervened eagerly. "Is it possible, Mr.
Lessingham, that you have seen Major Felstead lately?"

"A matter of fifty-six hours ago, Miss Fairclough. I am happy to
tell you that he was looking, under the circumstances, quite