"Seven years, I should say," replied John, thinking back.
"Seven years?" she mused. "Seven! And you feel that it has paid?"
"Immensely," replied John aggressively.
"By the way, how old are you, Ursus?"
This was what the old actor had asked. People were always asking John how old he was.
"Twenty-five," John answered a trifle apologetically. "I got started late. And you?"
The question was put without hesitation, as if it were the next thing to say.
"A man does not ask a woman her age in polite conversation," suggested Marien tentatively.
"He does not," replied John quickly, "if he thinks the answer is likely to be embarrassing."
Marien's face flushed with pleasure.