“At what time do you generally go to bed, Mr. Ferdinand, when you don’t sit up?”
“Sometimes at one time, sir, and sometimes at another.”
“That’s rather ambiguous.”
“I beg pardon, sir.”
“What is your usual hour for being quite—that is, entirely in bed.”
“Entirely in bed, sir?”
Mr. Ferdinand’s fine bass voice vibrated with surprise.
“Yes. Not partially in bed, but really and truly in bed?”
“Well, sir,” returned Mr. Ferdinand, with decided dignity, “when I am in bed, sir, I am.”
“And when’s that?”