“‘That is precisely what I mean to do; I never exaggerate; I hate exaggeration—it is my nature to despise it!’
“‘Miss Tadpoddle, do you, or do you not, know who the woman was that you saw in the garden?’
“‘I will not swear positively that I did know who she was, but I thought it was Miss Bramlett.’
“‘When you were playing detective that other night, what kind of a gown did you have on?’
“‘Now, I should like to know what on earth you ask such a question as that for?’
“‘Answer the question,’ thundered Flipout.
“‘Very well, if you must know, I did not have on any gown at all.’
“‘How did you happen to be parading the streets at night without a gown?’
“‘Did you never see any one clad without a gown?’
“‘How were you dressed on that occasion?’