"No, indeed," the gentleman answered. "The elixir has had a most remarkable success in your case. A photograph of you now would be a most valuable advertisement—before taking and after. I suppose you haven't got one of your former state?"
"But I tell you I'm not Mrs. Hexer," the Queen said.
Whereupon the gentleman became a shade more serious.
"You have exactly five minutes more life," he said, after having consulted one of those keyless watches that never seem to have had enough winding. He laid down his hat and bag, and looked carefully in his book. "Is this not your signature?"
The Queen said, "Good gracious, no; and I'm not going to sign anything more."
"You've signed quite enough in this," the gentleman said.
"But I tell you I never signed it," the Queen replied.
"Oh, nonsense, Mrs. Hexer," the gentleman said. "Come, your time is nearly at hand."
"It's nothing of the sort," the Queen said.
And the gentleman bowed. "You know best, Mrs. Hexer," he said. "There's one more minute."