Page 81 - English Class 07

“It’ll be rather a lengthy process bringing the list down to one,” said Jerton.

“Oh, but, of course, there are heaps of them that I couldn’t possibly be – women
who’ve got grandchildren or sons old enough to have celebrated their coming of age. I’ve

only got to consider the ones about my own age. I tell you how you might help me this
afternoon, if you don’t mind; go through any of the back numbers of COUNTRY LIFE and
those sort of papers that you can find in the smoking-room and see if you come across my
portrait with infant son or anything of that sort. It won’t take you ten minutes. I’ll meet you

in the lounge about tea-time. Thanks awfully.”
And the Fair Unknown,

having graciously pressed
Jerton into the search for her
lost identity, rose and left
the room. As she passed the

young man’s table, she
halted for a moment and
whispered:

“Did you notice that I
tipped the waiter a shilling?
We can cross Lady Ulwight

off the list; she would have
died rather than do that.”
diligent : showing effort to work
At five O’clock, Jerton made his way to the hotel acquaintance : known
lounge; he had spent a diligent but fruitless quarter of an
hour among the illustrated weeklies in the smoking-room. His new acquaintance was seated
at a small tea-table with a waiter hovering in attendance.

“I’ve got rather a useful idea, though. I feel certain that I belong to the Pivot Club; I’ll go
back to town and ask the hall porter there if there are any letters for me. He knows all the

members by sight and if there are any letters or telephone messages waiting for me, of
course, that will solve the problem. If he says there aren’t any, I shall say: “You know who I
am, don’t you?” so I’ll find out anyway.”

The plan seemed a sound one; a difficulty in its execution suggested itself to Jerton.

“Of course,” said the lady and she slipped unobtrusively out of the hotel. Her departure
was not, however, altogether unnoticed. Two gentlemen were strolling past Jerton and one
of them remarked to the other:

“Did you see that tall young woman in grey who went out just now? She is the Lady.”

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