THE DOUBLE ALIBI 165 



the book has fallen behind a row of others, and 

 has been found by this time. Where were you at 

 a quarter to four ? ' 



' I really don't feel obliged to stand a cross- 

 examination before my time,' answered Allen, 

 flushing a little. Then- 1 remembered that I was 

 engaged to lunch at All Souls', which was true 

 enough ; convenient too, for I do not quite see 

 how the conversation could have been carried on 

 pleasantly much further. For I had seen him — 

 not a doubt about it. But there was one curious 

 thing. Next time I met Miss Breton I told her 

 the story, and said, ' You remember how we saw 

 Allen, at Blocksby's, just as we were going away ? ' 



' No,' she said, ' I did not see him ; where was 

 he?' 



'Then why did you smile — don't you re- 

 member ? I looked at him and at you, and I 

 thought you smiled ! ' 



' Because — well, I suppose because you smiled,' 

 she said. And the subject of the conversation was 

 changed. 



It was an excessively awkward affair. It did 



