The camel will bring you to the camp and take you back in plenty of time for the mail." After all then the quest had not failed.

After all he was to see for himself--what a man could see within two hours, of the inner life of a married couple.

Not very much certainly, but a hint perhaps, some token which would reveal to him what it was that had written so much character into Stella Ballantyne's face and driven Jane Repton into warnings and reserve.
"I will go at once," said Thresk and his bearer translated the words to the camel-driver.
But even so Thresk stayed to look again at the letter.

Its handwriting at the first glance, when the unexpected words were dancing before his eyes, had arrested his attention; it was so small, so delicately clear.
Thresk's experience had made him quick to notice details and slow to infer from them.

Yet this handwriting set him wondering.