I was walking just behind her, when she dropped a letter by accident--" "No accident," he interposed.

"The letter was dropped on purpose." "Impossible!" I exclaimed.

"Why should your mother drop the letter on purpose ?" "Use the key to her character, my dear.

Eccentricity! My mother's odd way of making acquaintance with you." "Making acquaintance with me?
I have just told you that I was walking behind her.

She could not have known of the existence of such a person as myself until I spoke to her first." "So you suppose, Valeria." "I am certain of it." "Pardon me--you don't know my mother as I do." I began to lose all patience with him.
"Do you mean to tell me," I said, "that your mother was out on the sands to-day for the express purpose of making acquaintance with Me ?" "I have not the slightest doubt of it," he answered, coolly.
"Why, she didn't even recognize my name!" I burst out.