“Then who did? I made a phone call and came out of the booth. Next you were putting me into that broken-down chariot. How long we rode, I don’t know, but you were still in the carriage when we arrived back at my hotel.”
They had passed Phil’s hotel, the Sans Souci, but he didn’t say he lived there. Phil kept right on walking in order to clear the mystery.
“But I didn’t put you in the hack!” Phil insisted. “You just disappeared. When I saw you again, you were riding around like a zombie.”
“Zombies don’t disappear,” argued Arlene, curtly, “but banshees do. Next, you’ll be calling me a banshee.”
“Maybe,” declared Phil indifferently. “It seems I’ve heard somewhere that banshees have a weakness for lilacs.”
It was well put, for Arlene was sporting a batch of lilac blossoms again tonight. For a moment, Phil saw blue eyes sparkle angrily; then the girl calmed down.
“I have an appointment,” Arlene explained patiently. “At the Chateau Parkview, where we met last night. So you sent me away in a hack and didn’t go along; all right, I’m willing to believe your story and you should know why.”
“And why?”
“Because I realize now that you intended to meet someone else and didn’t want me to interfere. But since it’s the other way around tonight, suppose you don’t interfere with my plans.”
They were nearing the Chateau Parkview, so Phil decided to make the best of a last few moments.