“But when I asked you the same question on the Autocratic—”
“Quite so: I denied it.”
“And you were in London that Friday, after all?”
“I was. Had to be, hadn’t I, in order to buy the hat and have it sent you?”
“But—how did you know I was sailing Saturday?”
“I happened to go to the steamship office just after you had booked—saw a clerk adding your name to the passenger-list on the bulletin-board. That gave me the inspiration. I had already bought the hat, but I drove back to the shop and instructed them to send it to you.”
“But, Alison! to what end?”
“Well,” she said languidly, smiling with amusement at his bewilderment, “I thought it might be fun to hoodwink you.”
“But—I fail to see the joke.”
“And will, until I tell you All.”