“‘Now the fun begins,’ whispered Quillet to Hogjaw.
“‘Miss Tadpoddle,’ said Lottie, in a calm, firm tone, ‘I believe you said the night you saw Miss Bramlett with Bowles was very dark?’
“‘Yes, of course I did; and I’ll say it again, if it will do you any good.’
“‘Never mind, once will do. How did you know it was Miss Bramlett if the night was so dark?’
“‘Yes, how could you know it was Miss Bramlett, when it was so dark that you could not see her face?’
“‘I never said I saw her face; the fact is, I did not see her face, because she had it concealed behind a heavy veil.’
“‘Then how did you know it was Miss Bramlett?’
“‘I knew her by the dress she had on—it was her blue silk and I knew it as well as I know my own silk, because I helped her alter it one day. It was too short in the skirt, and I let it out so as to make it the proper length.’
“‘How could you tell it was a blue silk dress when it was so dark?’