Matt looked his surprise.
"You've made some mistake, officer," he answered. "What's wrong?"
"Oh, he don't know a thing!" cried one of the bystanders scoffingly.
"He's fergot all about burnin' that 'ar cotton bale," said another.
"A blame' quick change he made, anyhow," put in a third.
"I don't understand you," said Matt. "I just came from Stuyvesant Dock——"
"D'you mean to say you wasn't here a few minutes ago, shufflin' around, smokin' a cigarette——"
"I don't smoke cigarettes," broke in Matt, "and I wasn't here a few minutes ago. I've been with the air ship, over on the dock, for the last hour."
"Ye was right here fer an hour," declared one of the loungers. "I seen ye."
"I can easily disprove that," temporized Matt. "Go and talk with the watchman on the dock, officer. He will tell you that I have been with him for an hour."