his part.

They were at once forthcoming. "What the deuce are they going to take
you away for?" he said. "Is your education finished?"

"No. I have behaved badly, and I am going to be expelled."

He laughed again. "Come!" he said, "you are beginning to invent in the
Smilash manner. What have you done?"

"I don't see why I should tell you. What have you done?"

"I! Oh, I have done nothing. I am only an unromantic gentleman, hiding
from a romantic lady who is in love with me."

"Poor thing," said Agatha sarcastically. "Of course, she has proposed to
you, and you have refused."

"On the contrary, I proposed, and she accepted. That is why I have to
hide."

"You tell stories charmingly," said Agatha. "Good-bye. Here is Miss
Carpenter coming to hear what we are taking about."

"Good-bye. That story of your being expelled beats--Might a common man
make so bold as to inquire where the whitening machine is, Miss?"

This was addressed to Jane, who had come up with some of the others.
Agatha expected to see Smilash presently discovered, for his disguise
now seemed transparent; she wondered how the rest could be imposed on