"There is the Residency," objected Monty, "and the law."

She laughed bitterly. "Thank you, I am in need of no passage home! I
overheard that ruffian say, and I think I heard you say too that you
are going to England. I want you to take a message for me."

There is a post-office here" said Monty without turning a hair. He
looked straight into her iron eyes. "There is a cable station. I will
lend you money to cable with."

"Thank you, my Lord!" she sneered. "I have money. I am so used to
being snubbed that my skin would not feel a whip! I want you to take a
verbal message!"

It was perfectly evident that Monty would rather have met the devil in
person than this untidy dame; yet he was only afraid apparently of
conceding her too much claim on his attention. (If she had asked
favors of me I don't doubt I would have scrambled to be useful. I
began mentally taking her part, wondering why Monty should treat her so
cavalierly; and I fancy Yerkes did the same.)

"Tell me the message, and I'll tell you whether I'll take it," said
Monty.

She laughed again, even more bitterly.

"If I could tell it on these stairs," she answered, "I could cable it.
They censor cablegrams, and open letters in this place."