"I can give a beautiful good guess," Halson exclaimed, running his merry eyesover our faces.

"Anybody can give a good guess," Rulledge said. "Wanhope is doing itnow."

"Don't let me interrupt." Halson turned to him politely.

"Not at all. I'd rather hear your guess, if you know Braybridge betterthan I," Wanhope exclaimed.

"Well," Halson compromised, "perhaps I've known him longer." He asked,with an effect of coming to business: "Where were you?"