"Perfectly," said Stewart, who was thoroughly enjoying himself. "By the way, Mary," he added, "no doubt it was your shoes and stockings I found in my grip awhile ago," and he pointed to where the slippers stood side by side.
His companion stared at them for an instant in amazement, then burst into a peal of laughter.
"How ridiculous! But yes—they were intended for mine."
"How did they get into my luggage?"
"The woman who manages this inn placed them there. She is one of us."
"But what on earth for?"
"So that the police might find them when they searched your bags."
"Why should they search my bags?"
"There is a certain suspicion attaching to this place. It is impossible altogether to avoid it—so it is necessary to be very careful. The landlady thought that the discovery of the slippers might, in a measure, prepare the police for the arrival of your wife."
"Then she knew you were coming?"