“I am always afraid,” said she, “of being asked who I am.”
“You needn’t be afraid, dearest; in France no gentleman or lady would think of asking such a question.”
“But if they did, what ought I to do?”
“You should make use of an evasion.”
“What’s an evasion?”
“A way of escaping from a difficulty without satisfying impertinent curiosity.”
“Give me an example.”
“Well, if such a question were asked you, you might say, ‘You had better ask this gentleman.’”
“I see, the question is avoided; but is not that impolite?”
“Yes; but not so impolite as to ask an embarrassing question.”