"I suppose you have to say that. I'll put it in another way. What is your opinion of Mary?"
"She is an interesting woman."
"You find her more interesting than you did upon her former visit?"
"I hardly remember her former visit. I never really knew her before."
"And you know her now?"
"She has honored me with a certain amount of confidence."
Aunt Caroline snorted. "I thought so. Well, she doesn't need to honor me with her confidence because I know her without it. Was she honoring you that way last night when you stayed out in the garden until mid-night?"
"We were talking, naturally."
"And—your wife?"
There was a moment's pause while the cigarette smoke grew bluer. "My wife," said Benis, "was very well occupied."