“You see (I got all this from the young chap himself just now) since this house-party began Rosa and Ardelia have been a little huffy over this man Morgan. Ardelia seems to bear away the prize; so for spite Rosa has begun to walk out a bit with this young fellow—seems a good enough young fellow.”
“And why the athletic exhibition?”
“The way of a man with a maid—showing his prowess. Prides himself on being something of a runner, says he possesses a number of cups and medals won at fairs and such by fleetness of foot. In fact, this afternoon he showed me his card of membership in the Brecon and Radnor Young Men Mercurys.”
“Ah, now I know what she had in her hand!”
He gaped; this was new to him. “What do you mean?”
“She was holding his stop-watch on him.”
“Curious. His voice reminded me of something, too.”
I remembered the laughter-spasm of the youth beneath the tree, but forebore just then to plague my host with new vexation.
The dinner-gong rang. While we passed down the stairs, I recalled our words of last evening on this flight of steps.
“Tell me, Crofts, has the great Harry Heatheringham of Worcester wired you his solution of these riddles?”