As soon as they were beyond hearing, Penny said quietly:
“Need we pretend? I am sure you recall that we met aboard the Goodtime.”
“Yes, I remember now,” admitted Pauletta coldly. “You were with another girl.”
“And you were accompanied by a young man.”
“A friend of mine.”
“This may be something of a shock,” said Penny, “but my chum and I saw you drop a bundle containing a wig into the river.”
“Oh!”
“The bundle caught fast and I fished it out.”
“You have no proof it was mine! You—you won’t tell Father?”
“Not if you can offer a good reason why I shouldn’t.”