‘No, thank you.’
‘Well, it seems a pity to waste it. Here goes! By the way, Maude, I must speak very severely to you. I can’t if you look at me like that. But really, joking apart, you must be more careful before the waiters.’
‘Why, dear?’
‘Well, we have carried it off splendidly so far. No one has found us out yet, and no one will if we are reasonably careful. The fat waiter is convinced that we are veterans. But last night at dinner you very nearly gave the thing away.’
‘Did I, Frank?’
‘Don’t look so sweetly penitent, you blessing. The fact is that you make a shocking bad conspirator. Now I have a kind of talent for that, as I have for every other sort of depravity, so it will be pretty safe in my hands. You are as straight as a line by nature, and you can’t be crooked when you try.’
‘But what did I say? Oh, I am so sorry! I tried to be so careful.’
‘Well, about the curry, you know. It was an error of judgment to ask if I took chutnee. And then . . . ’
‘Something else?’
‘About the boots. Did I get them in London or Woking.’