Sealing and directing this, he handed it to Canaris, who had been
whispering to Gladys more like a lover than a husband of half a year’s
standing. Something in the elder man’s face made the younger glance
involuntarily at the letter as he took it.
“Olivia? I promised to write her, but I”—
“Dared not?”
“No: I forgot it;” and Canaris went off, laughing at the _grande
passion_, which now seemed very foolish and far away.
“This time, I think, you _will_ remember, for I mean to fight fire with
fire,” thought Helwyze, with a grim smile, such as Louis XI. might have
worn when sending some gallant young knight to carry his own
death-warrant.
------------------------------------------------------------------------