"Is Monsieur de Beausire in?" I asked.
"No, sir, he is not," the maid answered civilly.
"Do you know where he may be found?"
"If you have a bill you may leave it,"--frostily and with sudden
suspicion.
There was a smothered sound from behind me, and I flushed angrily.
"I am not a bill-collector."
"Oh; it's the second day of the month, you know. I thought perhaps you
were."
"He has in his possession a hat which does not belong to him."
"Good gracious, he hasn't been _stealing_? I don't believe"--making as
though to shut the door.
This was too much, and I laughed. "No, my girl; he hasn't been stealing.
But, being absent-minded, he has taken another man's hat, and I am
bringing his home in hopes of getting the one he took by mistake."
"Oh!" And the maid laughed shrilly.