“Depends,” he replied guardedly. “Well, I'll try. Do you live here?”
“Just around the corner.”
“What do you do?”
“Nothing much.”
“How long have you been doing it?”
“Too long.”
“Why don't you stop?”
For the second time Cyrus the Gaunt lifted his long, thin face and looked her in the eye. “Beautiful Incognita,” he drawled with mild impertinence, “did you write the Shorter Catechism or are you merely plagiarizing?”
“Oh!” she said. Surprise and the slightest touch of dismay were in the monosyllable. “I'm afraid I've made a mistake. I thought—the policeman said you were a down-and-outer.”
“I'm the First Honorary Vice-President of the Life Branch of the Organization.”