He shrugged his shoulders.

“I apologize, my dear child, I really do. I always liked you⁠—but you were so confoundedly interfering. I couldn’t have all my plans brought to naught by a chit of a girl.”

“I think your plan at the falls was really the cleverest,” I said, endeavouring to look at the thing in a detached fashion. “I would have been ready to swear anywhere that you were in the hotel when I went out. Seeing is believing in future.”

“Yes, Minks had one of his greatest successes as Miss Pettigrew, and he can imitate my voice quite creditably.”

“There is one thing I should like to know.”

“Yes?”

“How did you induce Pagett to engage her?”