"Your respected mother-in-law, I've had the pleasure of meeting her before...."
"Have you, though?"
"Yes—abroad. It's many years ago now," put in Mrs. Rantzau hastily.
"And now, William, you'd better go off and fetch Betty, I think," said Holm. "And we'll have a little party this evening. I hope you will come too!"
"Thank you so much, Mr. Holm; I hope I can. But I must just speak to Alfred first."
"Alfred?"
"My fiancé, Banker Hermansen."
"Oh yes, yes, of course. I really didn't know he had a Christian name—he's always been just Banker Hermansen."
Holm came down into the shop, muttering to himself, "Alfred—Alfred...." until he had to go into his inner office where he could laugh unobserved. Of all the extraordinary things....