In due time Van Dieman appeared, radiant, smiling, faultlessly groomed.
"Well," said I, "it's about time you came over from Long Island, isn't it? My daughters expected you last week."
"I know," he said, smiling; "I couldn't get away, Peter. Didn't Alida explain?"
"Explain what?" I asked.
"About our engagement."
In my amazement I swallowed some smoke that was not wholesome for me.
"Didn't she tell you she is engaged to marry me?" he asked, laughing.
After a long silence, in which I thought of many things, including the formal offers of Captains de Barsac and Torchon de Cluny, I said I had not heard of it, and added sarcastically that I hoped both he and Alida would pardon my ignorance on any matters which concerned myself.
"Didn't you know that Alida came over here to buy her trousseau?" he inquired coolly.
I did not, and I said so.