"Oh, sir! I think I understand now—you were fishing for swallows, and the hook——"
"Caught in your dress! Precisely, my beautiful little lady, whom I have the pleasure of seeing for the fiftieth time, since I see you passing every morning, noon and evening—precisely. Immured in my apartment for political reasons, I am reduced to this species of amusement; and this hook attached to this thread contained a grain of wheat. It floated far up, and some cormorant devoured it; then the wind ceasing, it had the misfortune to strike into your dress."
With which words Sir Asinus made an elegant bow, wrapping his old dressing-gown about him with one hand, while he extricated the hook with the other.
"There! you are free!" he said; "I am very sorry, my dear little lady——"
"Oh, indeed, sir! it is very funny! I'm almost glad it caught me, Bathurst laughed so much."
"I have the pleasure of making Mr. Bathurst's acquaintance," said Sir Asinus politely; and in spite of little Martha's correction, that Mr. Bathurst was not his name, he added, "Your cavalier at the ball to-night, I presume?"
"Oh, sir, you are laughing," said the girl, with her bright face; "but we are going to the ball."
"And will you dance with me?"
"If you will, sir."
"Extraordinary innocence!" muttered the knight, "not common among young ladies;" then he added, "I assure you, Miss—you have not told me——"