"Well," she said, "otherwise people would find out about my little secret."
"Your little secret," Malone said.
"That's right," the little old lady said. "I'm immortal, you see."
Malone said: "Oh." Then he kept quiet for a long time. It didn't seem to him that anyone in the room was breathing.
He said: "Oh," again, but it didn't sound any better than it had the first time. He tried another phrase. "You're immortal," he said.
"That's right," the little old lady agreed sweetly.
There was only one other question to ask, and Malone set his teeth grimly and asked it. It came out just a trifle indistinct, but the little old lady nodded.
"My real name?" she said. "Elizabeth. Elizabeth Tudor, of course. I used to be Queen."
"Of England," Malone said faintly. "Malone, look—" Boyd began.
"Let me get it all at once," Malone told him. "I'm strong. I can take it." He twisted his hat again and turned back to the little old lady.