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Even Bistre saw the humor of it and grinned broadly, with hanging tongue.

"How do you do, Mr. Fallon?" responded Prudence. Then they looked at each other, smilingly, for a breathless instant, and perhaps something in the steady, eager gaze of his eyes moved her to hurried words. "I—I had no idea you were here!" she said.

"And I didn't know you were here," he answered, "until a few moments ago. You are stopping with the Ruggleses?"

"Yes; and you, of course, are with Mr. Brough?"

"Yes."

Again there was a little silence. The color which had faded from her cheeks crept back.

"He said nothing of it last night," she said, perplexed.