"I suppose he handed out a good fare," said his wife.
"Yes, he was quite decent about it. Tipped me a couple of dollars over an' above the register."
"I should have thought it would have been more. Men are usually generous when they are getting married."
"He was takin' on a rather expensive bit of stuff, unless I am much mistaken, an' p'raps he was just rememberin' it."
In this ingenuous fashion was a poor woman neatly headed off the scent of a fifty-dollar bill. She rang the knell of a new hat by her next question.
"What was the young lady really like—how was she dressed?" she cried.…
Hardly a word was said within the taxi until the corner was turned out of 56th Street into Seventh Avenue. Curtis, who was sitting with his back to the driver, rose, apologized for the disturbance, and looked through the tiny rear window.
"That's all right," he said. "That car won't be able to move for several minutes; but we must leave nothing to chance," so he sank back into a seat, and permitted the driver to take them whither he listed.
Hermione's first words were not exactly those of a fair maid in utmost distress.
"Oh, how splendid it must be to feel sure that you are able to hit a wretch like Count Vassilan and knock him flat!" she cried.