excitement seemed to be eating a ually, turning in to tation ale…”  suppose… ?”

    ‘I wisold him. ”I’m sorry.“

    ed face.

    As tation loomed into sigion of my own. “Do you o know Aurelius Love?”

    ‘terer! Yes, I know he man’s a culinary genius!“

    ‘how long have you known him?“

    tually, I  sch him”—

    and in tence a curious quiver entered  realized tions of my inquiry. My next question did not surprise him.

    ‘ Miss Marcer? as it her’s business?“

    ill at sco to see my fat e to sort out and,  going into confidential details, it became clear during tion t Miss Marcer  eavesdropping, you understand. t is to say, not deliberately. I able  draped and made it into a sort of tent, you see—and I didn’t  to embarrass my fat stayed quiet.”

    Miss inter old me? ts in a here are children.

    e o a stop in front of tation, and turned ricken eyes toold Aurelius. told me  of told  Miss Adeline Angelfield and Miss Vida inter he same person. I’m sorry.”

    ‘Don’t  it. It doesn’t matter now, anyway. I only wondered.“

    ‘Does sold Aurelius who she was?“

    I t about tter Miss inter  me rig t Aurelius in , seeking tory of  was decades ago. If s care.”

    the shadow cleared from his brow.

    ‘t.“

    And I ran for train.