"Intrigue!" said Sally, her eyes dancing. "He lied to his aunt, and went to the great, wicked city! Spill it, Neville! What haunt of vice did you visit?"
"I didn't. I wish I had. All I sought was rational companionship."
"Beast! You could have found that here!"
"Oh no, darling! No, really! Not with Helen in the offing!"
"Where did you find this rational companionship?" interrupted Hannasyde.
"I didn't. I went to call upon one Philip Agnew, who lives in Queen's Gate, and pursues a delightfully scholarly and ineffective career at the South Kensington Museum. But he was out."
"Indeed? So what did you do?"
"I wandered lonely as a cloud, trying to think of anyone besides Philip whom I could bear to consort with. But I couldn't, so I came home, and went to bed."
"Thank you. At what hour did you leave Greystones?" "Oh, but I don't know! After dinner. I expect it was somewhere between half-past eight and nine."
"How were you dressed?"