“I can’t say,” replied the actress drily. “Your name on the tag has been scratched out and mine, with this address, written above it.”
Staff moved over to the table and while he was intently scrutinising the tag, Alison continued:
“It came by messenger about eight this morning; Jane brought it to me when I got up a little while ago.”
“The hat was in it?” he asked.
She nodded impatiently: “Oh, of course—with the lining half ripped out and the necklace missing.”
“Curious!” he murmured.
“Rather,” she agreed. “What do you make of it?”
“This address isn’t her writing,” he said, deep in thought.
“Oh, so you’re familiar with the lady’s hand?” There was an accent in Alison’s voice that told him, before he looked, that her lip was curling and her eyes were hard.
“This is a man’s writing,” he said quietly, wondering if it could be possible that Alison was jealous.