"Oh, Dowdy! Oh, Kitty!"
"What's the matter?"
"It must be that man. Oh, was there ever such a trouble—"
"Really, Minnie dearest, you are allowing yourself to get too agitated. Who is this person?"
"He—he's—an—American."
"An American? Why, I just said that I thought he might be one. I didn't know that you were acquainted with any."
"Oh yes; I did get acquainted with some in—in Canada."
"Oh; and is this man a Canadian?"
"No, Dowdy darling; only an American."
"Well, if he's a friend of yours, I suppose you know something about him. But how singular it is that you have so completely forgotten his name. Atramonte? Why, I'm sure it's a very singular name for an American gentleman—at least it seems so to me—but I don't know much about them, you know. Tell me, darling, who is he?"