I shall have a good
quarter of an hour and more to spare before they carry him back to the
hotel in his blankets and get him to bed."
"Ha!" I said, "that's a brilliant idea. How do you mean to work it
out?"
"Take the telegram out of his waistcoat pocket, read it, or bring it
to you."
"Bring it; that will be best," I interrupted, feeling a tinge of
suspicion.
"But I must put it straight back," continued l'Echelle, "for he is
sure to ask for it directly he returns to the hotel."
Within a few minutes he had gone in and out again, carrying now one of
the black linen bags used by _valets de chambres_ to carry their
masters' clothes in. He winked at me as he passed, and we walked
together to a shady, retired spot in the little square where the
cab-stand is, and sat in the newspaper kiosk on a couple of
straw-bottomed chairs of the Central _cafe_.
"Read that," he said triumphantly, as he handed me the familiar scrap
of blue paper.
"Have got safely so far with nurse and baby--entreat you to follow
with all possible speed--dying to get on.--CLAIRE, Hotel
Cavour, Milan.
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