“Honorable Spence and Esteemed Professor, dear Sir,” wrote Li Ho.  “Permit felicity to include book belong departed parent of valued wife.  Deceased lady write as per day.  Li Ho extract and think proper missy to know.  Honorable Boss head much loony.  Secure that missy remain removed if desiring safety.  Belong much danger here since married as per also enclosed.  Exalted self be insignificantly warned by person of no intelligence, Li Ho.”

Farther down, in a corner of the sheet was this sentence: 

“Permit to notably add that respected lady departed life Jan. 14.”

Li Ho had certainly surpassed himself.  The bewildered professor forgot about the time-table entirely.  What Chinese meaning lay behind this jumble of dictionary words?  That they were not used at haphazard Spence knew.  Li Ho had some distinct meaning to convey—­ had indeed already conveyed it in the one outstanding word “danger.”  For an instant the professor’s mind sickened with that weakness which had been his dreadful legacy of war.  But it passed immediately.  Something stronger, deeper in, took quiet command.  Desire was in danger!  Shock has a way at times of giving back what shock has taken.—­Spence became his own man once more—­cool, ready.

With infinite care he went over the Chinaman’s disjointed sentences.  They had been written under stress.

That much presented no difficulty.  Li Ho, the imperturbable, had permitted himself a fit of nerves . . .  Something must have happened.  Something new.  Something which threatened a danger not sufficiently emphasized before.  In his former letter Li Ho had indeed intimated that a return was not desirable, but it had been an intimation based on general principles only.  This was different.  This had all the marks of urgent warning.  “No more safe being married as per inclosed.”  This cryptic remark might mean that further enlightenment was to be sought in the enclosures.

Spence picked up the second letter.  It was addressed to Dr. Herbert Farr at Vancouver, and was merely a formal notice from a firm of English solicitors—­post-marked London—­a well-known firm, probably, from the address on their letterhead.

“Dr. Herbert Farr,

Vancouver, B. C. Dear Sir: 

As executors in the estate of Mrs. Henry Strangeways we beg to inform you that the allowance paid to you for the maintenance of Miss Desire Farr is hereby discontinued.  This action is taken under the terms of our late clients will,—­whereby such allowance ceases upon the marriage of the said Desire Farr or her voluntary removal from your roof and care.

Obediently yours,

Hervey & Ellis.”