Then in neat marks of quotation were appended certain sentences.
' Why did you bewitch me if it was not for this?'
' When I am with you I am tongue-tied. Even now my hand halts as I think of you.'
' You are the only woman in the world for me. I offer you all I am and have, and shall be and shall have.'
There was a decent space left after these and other quotations—a silence of good manners. Then the letter continued:
' Mrs. Emsworth has reason to believe that you are about to marry Miss Amelie Palmer. She therefore offers you the chance of regaining possession of the letter, from which we have given you extracts, for the sum of ten thousand pounds (£10,000). Should you decide to accept her offer, you are requested to draw a cheque for the above-mentioned sum to the account of her present manager, Mr. Harold Bilton, who, on receipt of it, will forward to you a sealed envelope containing the complete letter from which the above are extracts. Should this not reach you within twenty-four hours, you are at liberty to stop the cheque. If, however, such cheque does not reach Mr. Harold Bilton by the evening of January 7, he will post the sealed packet in his possession (of the contents of which he has no idea), containing the original letter from which the above are extracts, to Mr. Lewis S. Palmer, Carlton Hotel, London. He has been instructed to do this on behalf of Mrs. Emsworth without admitting any discussion or temporizing on your part.
' We are, sir,
' Your respectful, obedient servants,
' A. B. C.'
The postmark on the envelope was London, W., and the envelope was type-written in purple ink.
