out a
word of explanation. What did you do it for?"

Alison relaxed and sat back in her chair, laughing softly. "Dear boy,"
she said--"do you know?--you're quite mad--quite!"

"Do you mean to say you didn't--?"

"I can't even surmise what you're talking about."

"That's funny." He pondered this, staring. "I made sure it was you.
Weren't you in London last Friday?"

"I? Oh, no. Why, didn't I tell you I only left Paris Saturday morning?
That's why we had to travel all day to catch the boat at Queenstown, you
know."

He frowned. "That's true; you did say so.... But I wish I could imagine
what it all means."

"Tell me; I'm good at puzzles."

So he recounted the story of the bandbox incognito, Alison lending her
attention with evident interest, some animation and much quiet
amusement. But when he had finished, she shook her head.

"How very odd!" she said wonderingly. "And you have no idea--?"

"Not the least in the world, now that you've established an alibi. Miss
Searle knows, but--"

"What's that?" demanded Alison quickly.

"I say, Miss Searle knows, but she won't tell."

"The girl who sat next to Bangs at lunch?"

"Yes--"

"But how is that? I don't quite understand."

"Oh, she says she was in the place when the bandbox was purchased--saw
the whole transaction; but it's none of her affair, says she, so she
won't tell me anything."

"Conscientious young woman," said Alison approvingly. "But are you quite
sure you have exhausted every means of identifying the true culprit? Did
you examine the box yourself? I mean, did you leave it all to the
housemaid--what's her name--Milly?"

He nodded: "Yes."

"Then she may have overlooked something. Why take her word for it? There
may be a card or something there now."

Staff looked startled and chagrined. "That's so. It never occurred to
me. I am a bonehead, and no mistake. I'll just take a look, after we've
run through this play."

"Why wait? Send for it now. I'd like to see for myself, if there is
anything: you see, you've roused a woman's curiosity; I want to know.
Let me send Jane."

Without waiting for his consent, Alison summoned the maid. "Jane," said
she, "I want you to go to Mr. Staff's stateroom--"

"Excuse me," Staff interrupted. "Find the steward named Orde and ask
him for the bandbox I gave him to take care of. Then bring it here,
please."

"Yes, sir," said Jane; and forthwith departed.

"And now--while we're waiting," suggested Alison--"