101 Conversations in Simple English

42. The bookshop

Natalie and Alice go into the bookshop and, between the bookcases, they see the man in the hat sitting at a table and reading a book. He seems to be waiting for them.

Alice: There he is!

Man in the hat: Alice, Natalie, I’ve been waiting for you.

Natalie: How do you know our names?!

Man in the hat: I know many things….

Alice: What is your name?

Man in the hat: I can’t tell you my name, yet.

Alice: Can we sit down?

Man in the hat: Yes, of course. Take a seat. We have a lot to talk about.

Alice: Are you following us?

Man in the hat: In fact, I believe it is you two who are following me.

Alice: Well… that’s true. But only because you are always around when strange things happen.

Man in the hat: Strange things? Like what?

Alice: Like the robbery of the Turner drawings at Lawrence Windsor’s mansion. And the robbery of the same drawings at Robert Green’s shop.