“Good gracious! I hope no one will suspect me,” said Jasper in pretended alarm.
“It seems I am suspected. I hope no other innocent person will have a like misfortune.”
Presently they reached Rodney’s lodgings. Mrs. McCarty was coming up the basement stairs as they entered.
“La, Mr. Ropes!” she said, “what brings you here in the middle of the day?”
“I hear there is a parcel in my room.”
“Yes; it contains such a lovely cloak. The gentleman from your store who called a little while ago thought you might have meant it as a present for me.”
“I am afraid it will be some time before I can afford to make such present. Do you know if any one called and left the cloak here?”
“No; I didn’t let in no one at the door.”
“Was the parcel there when you made the bed?”
“Well, no, it wasn’t. That is curious.”