"You are indeed polite!"

I smiled.

"I assure you," I said, "it was not intended for rudeness."

"Where did you go, then?"

"Do you wish to know?"

"It seems to me I have a right to know."

"Look there," I said, "do you see that beautiful dark avenue?"

"Yes—well...?"

"It is called the Avenue of Sighs: I came from there."

I had replied out of the simplicity of my heart; I had no intention of being clever or sentimental.