“This is the place where Tom Brown is working,” remarked the Warden; “but, gentlemen, please remember you are not to speak to him or even seem to give him special notice.”
So they entered the shop and leisurely made their way through; the Warden exchanging a word or two with the Captain as he went by, and all of them looking curiously at the various basket-makers within sight.
After they had passed out of the shop at the farther end, one of the visitors said,
“But, Warden, I didn’t see him.”
“Neither did we,” chimed in the rest.
“Well, gentlemen,” laughed the Warden, “this is certainly one on me; for I looked everywhere and I couldn’t find him myself.”
It was true; the whole party had passed within twenty feet of me, and not one of them—not even my intimate friend—had recognized me.
“But I’m very sure he’s there,” continued the Warden; “at any rate I can verify it at my office.”
So they returned to the main building and found out, sure enough, that Thomas Brown was duly registered in the basket-shop.
Two of the visitors insisted upon returning; they had known me very well by sight and were sure they could find me out. So back they came to the shop, and this time I noticed them.