What Shirley wrote
When Shirley comes out of his room in the damp but clean garments the servant brought, he is again the familiar, commonplace Englishman abroad. “Baxter wants us to travel overland in India, insofar possible,” he says in businesslike wise to Margaret after they have left Government House behind them. “Train to Calcutta, I think, as we talked about earlier. I think we had better pick up some more Indian kit in the bazaar. Two more outfits each will do, barely, as while we’re travelling few people will see us more than two days in succession.”
“I think three would make more sense; it does not take much more space, and I should like to have at least one presentable frock remaining upon our arrival. I do not expect we shall have much opportunity to clean our clothing en route.”
“Yes, all right.”
“We also need to find a food stall. I need to refill our hamper, and I promised Esperanza” with a grin at the girl “that we would find something to eat, after that dreadful excuse for a luncheon.”
“As you wish.” For whatever reason, Shirley seems mildly distracted; he has let lapse the intense awareness of his surroundings that he maintained on the way from the port through the bazaar.
Margaret notices, and slips her arm in his. “Shirley? Tuppence for your thoughts?”
“I’m sorry? Oh. You are being sadly overcharged. We shall talk once we are on the water. All three of us.”
Yet he seems in no particular hurry to honour that commitment. Once they have chartered their ship and moved their belongings aboard, Shirley ensconces himself in his cabin to write something.
This will get a little complicated, so bear with. He’s putting together an envelope addressed to Margaret with a letter and two envelopes inside. Each of the two (tightly sealed!) inner envelopes is addressed to Lady Hester Davies. One has a small inconspicuous “1” in the lower-right-hand corner; the other has a small inconspicuous “2” in the lower-right-hand corner.
When the whole is complete, Shirley will wait his chance to slip it in among Margaret’s other papers—but he doesn’t want to wait long, as the contents are (to him) comparable to what blew up the Alexandria rail lines. He certainly doesn’t want this discovered in his things by someone other than Margaret or Esperanza if Addison should kill him.
The outer letter reads:
My dear Margaret,
I intend to conceal this letter in your belongings, in hopes that you will not find it before you must, or before the danger is past and I can steal it back again. If Addison is not captured, and I am not dead, and still you are reading this—kindly find a better place to conceal it when you are done, or destroy it.
The two letters are a sort of unofficial codicil to my will. The one marked “1” is to be given to Lady Davies in the event that my death does not unmask me; the one marked “2” is to be given her if in the end my long concealment fails. Neither need be legally witnessed; Lady Davies’s honour and goodwill are to be relied upon. If you use the first letter, be so good as to destroy the second.
While I can, let me express to you how much I admire and esteem you: your courage, your brilliance, and your admirable good sense. I could ask for no finer friend; certainly I cannot have deserved one so good and so patient as you have proven yourself to be. I wish you all conceivable happiness once the Ellipse is complete.
Hoping earnestly you never read this,
I remain,
Your faithful friend,
SHIRLEY
Letter “1″ reads:
Dear Lady Davies:
If this comes to you, then I have not managed to survive the Grand Ellipse. I am earnestly sorry to disappoint; I hope my dereliction can be forgiven. I do thank you most heartily for according me the opportunity to participate in the historic event, as well as for all your previous kindness and generosity toward me.
I have one small request to make of you. Edgar Middlebury has my will in keeping. It need not be altered nor its reading delayed, but I have an additional specific bequest which I must beg you to manage for me. Be assured it will not conflict with the provisions of the existing will.
My sister Elizabeth owned and left to me a sapphire lavaliere, which now lies in a small concealed compartment behind the third drawer from the top on the left-hand side of my writing-desk in the office. Please find it and give it to Doctor Margaret Byrd, who has proven herself a steadfast friend on this journey. I thank you sincerely for this final consideration.
I commend to you also Doctor Byrd’s plans for a health clinic for the poor.
I remain, madam,
Very sincerely yours,
SHIRLEY ADDAM, ESQ.
Letter “2″ reads:
Dear Lady Davies,
If this comes to you, then I have not managed to survive the Grand Ellipse, and the disguise I have worn for some years has been discovered. I am wretchedly sorry for the scandal you must now endure; believe me, I did my uttermost to prevent it. Do not hesitate to protest your utter ignorance of my deception; vilify me however you wish if that will in any way lighten your difficulties. If you will deign to consider a kindly thought from one such as I, please accept my heartfelt thanks for all your kindness and generosity toward me.
I must beg one small favour of you, if you will vouchsafe me one last kindness. In a small concealed compartment behind the third drawer from the top on the left-hand side of my writing-desk in the office, you will find a sapphire lavaliere which was mine before I took on my brother’s semblance. Please find it and give it to my friend, Doctor Margaret Byrd. I wish I had something similar to give you; I take comfort that you cannot possibly need any such gift.
I understand that it will be difficult under the circumstances to consider any attachment to Doctor Byrd at this time; nonetheless, I commend her and her projects to your attention. She is a brilliant, skilled, and energetic woman, and I believe you will find her company congenial also. Whatever quiet support you can give her I am sure she will requite in full measure.
Once again, I proffer my deepest apologies for the embarrassment I have caused you.
Very sincerely yours,
ELIZABETH (sometime SHIRLEY) ADDAM
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