When, at last, coming from the direction of Westminster, he saw
the familiar spruce figure.
Eagerly he hurried forward to meet the Greek; but Gianapolis--to the
horror and amazement of Soames--affected not to know him! He stepped
aside to avoid the stupefied butler, and passed. But, in passing, he
hissed these words at Soames:--
"Follow to Victoria Street Post Office! Pretend to post letters at next
box to me and put them in my hand!"
He was gone!
Soames, dazed at this new state of affairs, followed him at a discreet
distance. Gianapolis ran up the Post Office steps briskly, and Soames,
immediately afterwards, ascended also--furtively. Gianapolis was taking
out a number of letters from his pocket.
Soames walked across to the "Country" box on his right, and affected
to scrutinize the addresses on the envelopes of Mrs. Leroux's
correspondence.
Gianapolis, on the pretense of posting a country letter, reached out and
snatched the correspondence from Soames' hand. The gaze of his left eye
crookedly sought the face of the butler.
"Go home!" whispered Gianapolis; "be cautious!"
XIV
EAST 18642
In a pitiable state of mind, Soames walked away from the Post Office.
Gianapolis had hurried off in the direction of Victoria Station.
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