"
"Granted, with all my heart," persisted the captain. "I don't want to
touch it--I only want to explain myself. A lady has posted a letter
here, addressed to 'Noel Vanstone, Esq., Admiral Bartram's, St.
Crux-in-the-Marsh, Essex.' She wrote in a great hurry, and she is not
quite certain whether she added the name of the post-town, 'Ossory.' It
is of the last importance that the delivery of the letter should not be
delayed. What is to hinder your facilitating the post-office work, and
obliging a lady, by adding the name of the post-town (if it happens to
be left out), with your own hand? I put it to you as a zealous officer,
what possible objection can there be to granting my request?"
The postmaster was compelled to acknowledge that there could be no
objection, provided nothing but a necessary line was added to the
address, provided nobody touched the letter but himself, and provided
the precious time of the post-office was not suffered to run to waste.
As there happened to be nothing particular to do at that moment, he
would readily oblige the lady at Mr. Bygrave's request.
Captain Wragge watched the postmaster's hands, as they sorted the
letters in the box, with breathless eagerness.
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