How Could You Tell It Was Me?

Astra replied, "Actually, I was a little nervous about asking you about your business. I would like to know how you could tell that I was in the hayloft. In this light, I don't see how you could tell anybody was up here, much less that it was me." Astra pointed at her heart at thumped it with her index finger a couple of times for emphasis.

The Baroness smiled, and nodded her head slightly, but did not speak. "She seems to approve of something that I did. Or is this just her natural manner?"

Then the Baroness said, "Princess, if I may be so bold to address you as such, pray allow me to give you something to ponder. What would be the simplest answer to your question?"

Astra was now fully awake. She thought, "She is showing respect for my rank, but is certainly not intimidated by it. She is trying to find something out, or trying to teach me something. And I cannot think of a good answer!"

Astra nodded her head as she bade her time. And then in a flash came a clever answer! It might not be right, but she wanted to see what the Baroness thought, and maybe she would give a hint.

Astra said, "You knew I was here before you entered the barn."

The Baroness replied, "Now Princess, how would I know that?"

"You could have trailed me from Aqualaria, to make sure that I was not getting in any trouble. Or you might have had some business out here, and met the master of this farm after I turned in, and he might have told you that I was here. Am I close to being right?"

The Baroness replied, "Right in the sense of it being the simplest answer, or right in the sense of it what actually happened?"

Astra's shoulders slumped. "I had assumed that they would be the same."

The Baroness placed her hand on Astra's shoulder and said, "That is actually a good assumption to make with questions like this, but always remember that it is an assumption." Removing her hand, she said,

1. "The simplest answer is that I have been trailing you. The chances two women from Aqualaria meeting out here on the same day are remote, wouldn't you think?"
2. "The correct answer is that I did talk with someone, and so I knew that you were likely in the hayloft."
3. "I am not going to give you the answer quite yet. I am not trying to tease you. You will see the reason in due time. In the meantime, how did you find your way out here? I thought you were headed north."
4. "That is a clever approach, but neither answer is correct."

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