Carlotta was awakened by the telephone ringing beside her bed. She stirred sleepily, then with an effort stretched out her hand and picked up the receiver.
“Hullo,” she said.
“A personal call for you, miss, from Melchester,” said the voice of the boy who managed the shop exchange.
Carlotta settled herself comfortably on her pillows and waited.
She knew who it was.
“Is that Miss Carlotta Lenshovski?” someone asked.
“Yes, I am speaking,” she answered.
“Hold the line, please. Sir Norman Melton wishes to speak to you,”
A moment later she heard Norman’s voice.
“Good morning,” she began. “I thought you had forgotten all about me.”
“I could not telephone last night,” he said. “I had a conference, which lasted until nearly midnight,”
“So you have signed the contract?” she guessed.
“I h
