See? New Year's Eve."

"Thomas thinks you're Jill- Miss Mansel."

"To him I am. To the temporary maid in the morning, too. As for
breakfast- oh, you and my high collar must get me through
breakfast and out of here and over to Steeple Abbas somehow.
Funny, your telling Falcon to go to 'The Three Bulls.' It's where
we were making for. I'd taken a room there."

"By Jove," said I. "Then, when I went back with Jill, they
thought it was you arriving."

And I related what had occurred. When I had finished, she threw
back her head and laughed.

"Then you're not a robber, after all, Adam?"

"Certainly not. But why?"

"I mean, assuming the exchange is a fair one."

"Fair?" said I. "It's exquisite. Why, just to look at you's as
good as a feast, and- "

"Which reminds me I'm awfully hungry. Oh, no, no, I didn't mean
that, Adam, dear, I didn't really."

And my companion leaned against the chimney-piece, laughing
helplessly.