He saw the sudden and almost imperceptible shrug of Alan's shoulders.
It was Alan who spoke, after a half-mixture of silence.

"Rather a missing link, isn't it?
Adds up a number of things fairly well.

And I'm grateful to you, Stampede.

Almost--you didn't tell me." "Almost," admitted Stampede.
"And I wouldn't have blamed you.

She's that kind--the kind that makes you feel anything said against her is a lie.