Bill, who had been standing near, sauntered away, and it was at least five minutes before he came back, empty-handed.
"I've nothing that will fit," he announced.
"Then go in and see if they've got one at the hardware store," ordered Nevis. "I ought to have thought of that earlier."
Bill was away a long while this time, and when he returned he held up an unusually long bolt for inspection.
"Guess it won't be any use," he said. "Thread doesn't go far enough to let the nut to the plate."
"Then what in thunder did you bring it for?" Nevis asked with rising anger.
Alison looked at Thorne and laughed.
"Have you been giving that man a hint?" she inquired.
"No," answered Thorne, smiling; "it would have been wasted in any case. Nevis has succeeded in riling him. He couldn't have managed the thing better if I had prompted him."
In the meanwhile Bill languidly affected to consider Nevis's question.