"Unfortunately, when I was coming back, all bundled up in my chair, we ran right into them down here at the door, and they recognised me instantly—I could tell that by their gasp of amazement as they shrank back against the wall."
"Still, if you preserved a cold and haughty demeanour, they may have concluded they were mistaken."
"Cold and haughty nothing!" broke in the third man. "I was there and
I'll swear he winked."
"No, I didn't wink," laughed Vernon. "Though perhaps I should if I'd dared—they're mighty taking girls!"
"Well, what did you do?" demanded Collins, with just a trace of impatience.
Again Vernon laughed.
"I sent 'em back a note asking 'em not to tell," he said.
Collins threw up his hands in horror and the third man grinned sardonically. Vernon looked at them and kept on laughing.
"You two fellows take it too seriously," he added. "I don't believe they'll tell."
"I thought you knew women better than that," said Collins, reproachfully.