"I don't know."
This time it was the questioner who was surprised. But, even more gently than before, he inquired:
"You don't know what state we are in?"
"No, sir."
There was a short silence.
"Could you tell me," he inquired, always deferentially, "the name of the nearest town?"
"Droitwich. I think we are in it now."
"Droitwich?"
"Yes, Droitwich."
He repeated the name as if hearing it for the first time.