She laughed at my blunt answer—laughed pleasantly, like a lady who knows how to turn off a harsh truth, not flirtatiously, like most of her profession.
"Been long at it?" I asked the next time she broke down.
"Not so very. I graduated from the school about six months ago, and I have always worked for Mr. Dround since then. He doesn't talk as fast as you do, not nearly."
She smiled again at me, frankly and naturally. Suddenly I remembered where I had seen that face before, and when she looked up again I said:—
"Did you ever find that purse, Miss Gentles?"
She looked puzzled at first; then a light spread over her face, and she stammered:—
"Why, of course, you are the Mr. Harrington who—But you have changed!"
"Rather, I hope! And the light wasn't good in the police station that morning."
Miss Gentles leaned back in her chair and laughed, a blush spreading prettily over her face.
"It's all so funny!" she exclaimed.