Rambert. He resolved to write immediately to
his bookseller and publisher in London (who knew him well as an
old and excellent customer), mentioning the date of the back
number of the _Times_ that was required, and authorizing the
publisher to offer any reward he judged necessary to any person
who might have the means of procuring it at the office of the
paper or elsewhere. This letter he wrote and dispatched in good
time for the London post, and then went upstairs to see his wife
and to tell her what had happened. Her room was still darkened
and she was still on the sofa. On the subject of the missing
number she said nothing, but of Mr. Rambert and his note she
spoke with the most sovereign contempt. Of course the pompous old
fool was mistaken, and the proper thing to do was to send back
the volume instantly and take no more notice of him.
"It shall be sent back," said Mr. Carling, "but not till the
missing number is replaced." And he then told her what he had
done.
The effect of that simple piece of information on Mrs. Carling
was so extraordinary and so unaccountable that her husband fairly
stood aghast. For the first time since their marriage he saw her
temper suddenly in a flame. She started up from the sofa and
walked about the room as if she had lost her senses, upbraiding
him for making the weakest of concessions to Mr.
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