“What?”

“Gay and free. Can you keep a secret?”

“Yes.”

“I'm getting divorced.”

“My Lord, no!”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Oh, God, and me just married!”

Charity looked for an instant as if an arrow had flashed into her heart and struck her dead. Then with relentless courage she plucked out the steel and let the blood gush while she smiled.

“Congratulations, old boy. Who's the lucky lady?”

“It's the little girl I yanked out of Mrs. Noxon's pool.”