as soon as she could next morning she rang townsend up at his office.

"yes, what is it?"

"i want to see you."

"my dear, i'm awfully busy. i'm a working man."

"it's very important. can i come down to the office?"

"oh, no, i wouldn't do that if i were you."

"well, come here then."

"i can't possibly get away. what about this afternoon? and don't you think it would be better if i didn't come to your house?"

"i must see you at once."

there was a pause and she was afraid that she had been cut off.

"are you there?" she asked anxiously.

"yes, i was thinking. has anything happened?"

"i can't tell you over the telephone."

there was another silence before he spoke again.

"well, look here, i can manage to see you for ten minutes at one if that'll do. you'd better go to ku-chou's and i'll come along as soon as i can."

"the curio shop?" she asked in dismay.

"well, we can't meet in the lounge at the tching yen hotel very well," he answered.

she noticed a trace of irritation in his voice.