sister. As I belong to the working class, and there is no knowing how
soon I may be able to get away again, I laid in a stock of everything
which I needed, or which took my fancy. Men's things as well as
women's are so much cheaper over there if one knows where to go."

"With the duties?"

The words, gently spoken, were like a bolt from the blue. George
betrayed his distaste for the inquiry only by a sudden gravity. "Yes,
with the duties." He hastened to add: "But enough of myself and my
travels. They were merely to pass the time." He bent forward from his
chair and interrogated her meaningly with his glance.

"But I am interested in duties."

He frowned at her insistence.

"Miss Golightly," continued Mary, "explained to us yesterday how she
got all her things through the custom-house by giving the inspector
twenty-five dollars. She gloried in it and in the fact that, though
her trunks were full of new dresses, she made oath that she had
nothing dutiable."

He suspected now her trend, yet he was not certain that he was
included in its scope. But he felt her eyes resting on him
searchingly.

"Did she?" he exclaimed, with an effort at airy lightness which seemed
to afford the only hope of escape.