Mrs. Faulks stared at her. “I imagine there is only one thing to be done. I have desired Colonel Beach to send for the police. I should have thought that was obvious.”
“Oh, Tom, you mustn’t!” Sally cried.
“Really! My dear, you don’t realize what you’re saying.”
“Yes, I do. You don’t understand, Mrs. Faulks; you see it was like this——” and out it all came with the Colonel trying to stop it in confused exclamations, and Mrs. Faulks and her heavy son sinking deeper and deeper into stupefaction.
“The whole affair was a practical joke?” said Faulks thickly.
“That’s the idea, old thing,” Cosdon assured him.
“Yes, yes, don’t you see it?” Sally giggled.
“I never heard anything so disgraceful,” Faulks pronounced.
“I say, go easy,” Cosdon cried.
Mrs. Faulks had become pale. “Am I expected to believe this?” she looked from Tom to Alice.