"Where did you buy them?" asked the Inspector, holding the duck trousers up in the air.
"Right here in this town before I stole on board the Digestic," said the Unwiseman.
"American made, are they?" asked the Inspector.
"Yes," said the Unwiseman. "You can tell that by lookin' at 'em. They're regular canvas-back ducks with the maker's name stamped on the buttons."
Closer inspection of the garment proved the truth of the Unwiseman's assertion and the Inspector proceeded.
"Didn't you make any purchases abroad?" he asked. "Clothes or jewels or something?"
"I didn't buy any clothes at all," said the Unwiseman. "I did ask the price of a Duke's suit and a Knight gown, but I didn't buy either of them. You don't have to pay duty on a request for information, do you?"
"You are sure you didn't buy any?" repeated the Inspector.
"Quite sure," said the Unwiseman. "A slight misunderstanding with the King combined with a difference of opinion with his tailor made it unnecessary for me to lay in a stock of royal raiment. And the same thing prevented my buying any jewels. If I'd decided to go into the Duke business I probably should have bought a few diamond rings and a half a dozen tararas to wear when I took breakfast with the roil family, but I gave that all up when I made up my mind to remain a farmer. Tararas and diamond rings kind of get in your way when you're pulling weeds and planting beets, so why should I buy them?"