“An hour? only an hour?” said the lady. “And pray how did you pass the rest of the time?”
“A strange thing happened,” said Lewis, after a pause. “I was amazed to see my wife there—or one whom I took to be my wife.”
“Ah, sir, these mistakes are of common occurrence,” laughed Mrs. Abington. “Was she, like her husband, alone?”
“No, that's the worst of it; she was by the side of a handsome young fellow in a pink coat embroidered with silver.”
“Oh, Mrs. Lewis would seem to have borrowed a leaf from her husband's book; that is, if it was Mrs. Lewis. Have you asked her if she was at the Gardens?”
“How could I ask her that when I had told her that I was going to the playhouse? I was struck with amazement when I saw her in the distance with that man—did I mention that he was a particularly good-looking rascal?”
“You did; but why you should have been amazed I am at a loss to know. Mrs. Lewis is a very charming lady, I know.”
“You have seen her?”
“She was pointed out to me last night.”
“Heavens! then it was she whom I saw in the Gardens? I would not have believed it.”