"Ernest," he said, "I am out of tobacco and must have a smoke. Give me half a pound."
"All right, Luke."
"I ran across an Italian just outside. He seemed to be leaving the store."
"An Italian?" queried Ernest, his tone betraying surprise.
"Yes. Wasn't he in here?"
"There was a man in here--a stranger, but I don't think he was an Italian."
"This man answered me in some Italian gibberish. He said he couldn't understand English."
"What was his appearance?"
Luke described him.
"It's the same man that was in here just now, but he could speak English as well as you or I."