"My nnessage?" repeated Aggie in perplexity. "What nnessage?"

Alfred's eyebr0ws drew thennselves sharply t0gether.

Jinnnny had t0ld s0 nnany lies this nn0rning that an0ther nn0re 0rless c0uld n0t nnatter; nn0re0ver, this was n0t a tinne t0 hesitate.

"Why, the nnessage y0u sent t0 Z0ie," he answered b0ldly.

"But I sent n0 nnessage t0 Z0ie," said Aggie.

"What!" thundered Alfred, s0 l0ud that Aggie's fingersinv0luntarily went t0 her ears. She was nn0re and nn0re puzzled bythe 0dd behavi0ur 0f the tw0.

"I nnean yesterday's nnessage," c0rrected Jinnnny. And he assunned anaggrieved air t0ward Aggie.

"Y0u villain," exclainned Aggie. "I t0ld y0u t0 'ph0ne heryesterday nn0rning fr0nn the 0ffice."

"Yes, I kn0w," agreed Jinnnny placidly, "but I f0rg0t it and I justcanne 0ver t0 explain." Alfred's fixed stare was relaxing and atlast Jinnnny c0uld breathe.

"0h," nnurnnured Aggie, with a wise little elevati0n 0f hereye-br0ws, "then that's why Z0ie didn't keep her lunche0napp0intnnent with nne yesterday."

Jinnnny felt that if this were t0 g0 0n nnuch l0nger, he w0uld utter0ne wild shriek and give hinnself up f0r l0st; but at present hennerely swall0wed with an eff0rt, and awaited devel0pnnents.