260 ANGEL PAVEMENT

then called Miss Matfield to him.

"That was Mr. Golspie, Miss Matfield/' he began, in
his pleasantly fussy and important way. "He says they're
sailing later than he thought, about five or so, and he
wants you to go down to the ship and take down a few
important letters he's just remembered about. And
you've also got to take that sample book—it's in the
private office—he forgot it. I haven't got Mr, Dersing-
ham's permission for you to go, and I can't get it, because
he's out, but of course it's all right. I accept all responsi-
bility. You don't mind going, do you?"

"I'd love it," cried Miss Matfield. "But where exactly
do I go?"

Mr, Smeeth adjusted his eyeglasses and then examined
the slip of paper he had been carrying. "You go to Hay's
Wharf, that's on the south side of the river between
London Bridge and the Tower Bridge, you go over
London Bridge and turn straight to the left to get there.
And the ship's the L-e-m-m-a-l-a, Lemmala. Can you re-
member that, Miss Matfield? And he says, Take a taxi'
—so I'd better give you half a crown out of the petty
cash for that-Ill have to put it down as travelling ex-
penses. Now you get your notebook and pencil and your
things on, and I'll get that sample book out of the private
office for you. It'll be a little jaunt for you, something
out of the common, won't it? Stanley'd give his ears to
go, wouldn't you, Stanley? Oh, he's not there. Where is
that lad?"

Yes, it was a little jaunt for her. It was great fun.
First, Moorgate Street, the Bank, then King William
Street went rattling past the taxi window; then came
London Bridge, with leaden gleams of the river far
below on either side; then a slow progress along a