"But what has my ad. to do with Mr. Merry? His name is not mentioned in it."
"Ah, that is where your cunning comes in. But doesn't everyone in Rockton know that for years and years Mr. Merry has always occupied a seat in the third row of the orchestra at the first performance of a new play?"
At last Al grasped the situation.
"Oh!" he exclaimed, "that's what you mean?"
"That is what I mean."
"And you think I meant Mr. Merry when I referred to the 'queer old man'?"
"Of course I do, and so does Mr. Merry."
"Both of you are very much mistaken."
"For your own sake, I hope you will be able to prove that statement."
"Why, I never heard of Mr. Merry until you mentioned his name."