“Why, you have made an astonishing change in your appearance, Masson.”
“Yes,” replied Masson, fully at ease. “And not for the better, I imagine.”
To this remark no one made reply, but the other gentleman said, lightly:
“It was a reckless thing to do—making such a complete change.”
“It was forced on me,” said Masson. “A fellow that looks like me has been going about town representing himself to be me, and causing me a good deal of trouble. The only way in which I could stop him was to destroy the resemblance.”
“Perhaps he will shave, too,” said one of the ladies.
“But he will not restore the resemblance,” replied Masson. “It was the whiskers that did the trick.”
Their conversation was changed with this, and Nick said to his companion:
“Was that said by Masson for our benefit, think you?”
“It sounded like a throw off,” said Chick.