I think that I had written to him about a general reduction of the Greenwich Planetary Observations, using his Tabulae Regiomontanae as basis, and that this was his reply approving of it.

The knowledge made my reply curt.

Lord Hartfield went into the library and wrote his reply message, which consisted of six words.

Regardless of my words, he no reply Returns, but with a dreadful groan doth cry, 'Fly from the flame, O goddess-born!

One must understand here a double meaning, Silvia uses it evidently in the sense of 'amusing,' 'ridiculous' (see note 37), while Harlequin fails to catch the point, and, as his reply shows, takes it in its earlier sense of 'agreeable.'

" He sat down and scribbled a reply wire directing the parcel and its bearer to be brought to him with all speed.