The stranger arched his eyebrows, and demanded:

"A telephone?"

"Yes."

"What makes you ask that question?"

"Because you yelled 'hello' in my ear."

"I've heard about telephones, but I never saw one."

"You never did?"

"No; what are they like?"

The question was asked seemingly in the most innocent manner, but the keen-witted Desmond's suspicions were at once aroused, and on the instant he made a curious discovery. The fellow was a make-up, under a disguise, and consequently under immediate suspicion also.

"So you never saw a telephone?"