"Yes?"
"Yes. The second one is gossip, so I suppose I shouldn't"—
"Oh, but you will."
"Not," said Miss Bent, impressively, "not unless you promise solemnly never to tell a living soul about it—especially not Agatha!"
"Why is Agatha to be debarred from hearing what no living soul may know?"
"Because," said his companion, seriously, "Agatha is not to be trusted. She can't keep a secret. Oh, you needn't laugh. The person who told me this said the same thing to me. 'Don't tell anyone about this,' she said, most earnestly, 'and whoever you tell, don't tell Agatha.'"
"What lack of confidence you two secretive people do show in Agatha. Why is it?"
"In the first place because she's a cat."
"Doesn't seem conclusive. I've known cats who talked less than some ladies."
"—And in the second because she's her cousin."