human
What on earth can you two have to talk about?
gpt
If you're very good, dear, Miriam replied, trying to take an amused, offhand tone,
human
I'll tell you. It was business.
gpt
Business? Why, I thought you hardly knew him.
human
You don't have to know people very well to transact business with them. He came on a question of--money.
gpt
No, but you don't start up doing business with a person that's just dropped down from the clouds--like that.
human
Sometimes you do.
gpt
Well, _you_ don't. I know that for a fact. She was inspecting a vase on a pedestal in a corner now. It was nearer to the packet. She wheeled round suddenly, so that it should take her by surprise.
human
What's that?
gpt
You see. It's an envelope with papers in it.
human
What sort of papers?
gpt
I haven't looked at them yet. They have to do with money, or investments, or something. I'm never very clear about those things.
human
I thought you did all that through Cousin Endsleigh Jarrott and Mr. Conquest?
gpt
This was a little thing I couldn't trouble them with.
human
And you went straight off to _him_, when you'd only known him--let me see!--how many days?--one, two, three, four--
gpt
I've gone to people I didn't know at all--sometimes. You have to. If you only knew more about investing money--
human
I don't know anything about investing money; but I know this is very queer. And you didn't like him--or you said you didn't.
gpt
I said I did, dear--after a fashion--and so I do.
human
In that case I should think a good deal would depend upon the fashion. Look here. It's addressed--_Miss Strange._ That's his writing. That's how he scribbles his name. And there's something written in tiny, tiny letters in the corner. What is it? Without touching the envelope she bent down to see.
gpt
It's _The Wild Olive_. Now, what in this world can that mean? That's not business, anyhow. That means something.
human
No, that's not business, but I haven't an idea what it means. Miriam was glad to be able to disclaim something.
gpt
It was probably on the envelope by accident. Some clerk wrote it, and Mr. Strange didn't notice it.
human
That's not papers, she said, at last, pointing as she spoke to something protruding between the rubber bands.
gpt
There's something in there. It looks like a --she hesitated to find the right article--
human
Perhaps it is, Miriam agreed.
gpt
But I'm sure I don't know why he should bring me a card-case.
human
Why don't you look?
gpt
I wasn't in a hurry; but you can look yourself if you want to.
human
I'm sure I don't want to. That's the last thing.
gpt
I wish you would. Then you'd see.
human
I only do it under protest, she declared--
gpt
She took up the envelope, and began to unloose the rubber bands.
human
she quoted, half to herself.
gpt
Ridiculous! I should think clerks might have something better to do than write such things as that--on envelopes--on people's business. But her indignation turned to surprise when a small flat thing, not unlike a card-case, certainly, tumbled out.
human
What in the name of goodness--?