'Why, nothing at all. But what did you mean by saying you knew all about it?'
'About as much as you did,' she answered coldly.
'H'm. Then we both meant nothing. I'll say good-night, Totty.'
'No you won't. You'll please to tell me what you did mean!'
He was about to answer lightly, but altered his intention and said:
'I can't do that. It's not my business.'
'As you please. I shall go and ask Mrs. Bower what's going on.'
'I can't prevent you. But listen here, Totty. If you repeat what they tell you—if you repeat it once—you're not the girl I thought you. It's more than half a cursed lie, and you can't tell one half the story without meaning the other.'
'I shall know what to think when I've heard it, Mr. Ackroyd. And as to repeating, I shall do as I think fit.'
'Look here! When you've heard that story, you'll just go and say to everybody that ever mentions it to you that it's a lie from beginning to end. You understand me?'